The risk of trying to develop a team from within is already coming to fruition for Arizona volleyball head coach Rita Stubbs. Starting setter Avery Scoggins announced her intent to transfer mere hours after Arizona’s season ended in the second round of the NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Unconfirmed rumors of other players being shopped around by third parties are also swirling.

Scoggins was the AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year last season despite not getting the nod as Big 12 Freshman of the Year. She was All-Big 12 Second Team this season and led the conference in assists during league play.

Scoggins was an AVCA Second Team All-American coming out of high school after leading her high school to a state title. She joined a highly-touted Arizona class that included AVCA First Team All-American Carlie Cisneros and AVCA All-American honorable mention Brenna Ginder.

That group, along with fellow sophomore middle blocker Adrianna Bridges, was the core of an Arizona team that got back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and won a tournament game for the first time since 2016. They were set to be the core of a team that tries to take the next step forward next season. Now, part of that class of juniors-to-be is leaving.

Arizona will have to get a setter from the transfer portal. The Wildcats did not sign a setter in the 2026 class. It consists of a middle blocker, a pin, and a libero. With former setter Ana Heath graduating, the only setter still on next year’s roster is Chloe Giehtbrock. She came to the position late in her development, sat out a year of high school play after transferring, and played just a few points this year after planning to red shirt. Even if Giehtbrock is ready to set on a daily basis, having just one setter on the roster is not sustainable.

Fortunately for Stubbs, the portal is already full of high-level setters from Power 4 teams. There are also some quality setters from mid-major programs who are on the move. Setters are far from in short supply this year.

The question for Arizona is how attractive it will be to a high-level player. Volleyball is not a part of revenue sharing at Arizona. The school does not even fund all 18 scholarships allowed by the NCAA under the House settlement. Although Arizona Athletics incorrectly claimed last month in response to an open records request that revealing how many scholarships it offers after House is a violation of FERPA, it is known that the program has 14.75 scholarships. It is also not a violation of FERPA to reveal that information; the law is meant to protect the individual records of students not aggregate data about money spent, budgeted, or approved at a public institution. NAU responded to a similar request for the number of scholarships it approves in less than 24 hours with a full breakdown by all sports.

On a positive note, one player who is headed to Arizona for 2026 just received more honors. Libero Gigi Whann was named the District 15A MVP for her district in Texas. Another recruit, 2027 OH Asia Udo-Ema, just finished third with her club team at the SCVA 18s.

A Michigan parent filed a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education over the presence of a trans-identifying biological male player on the Ann Arbor Skyline girls’ volleyball team. OutKick obtained a copy of the official complaint, filed with the Department of Education on Dec. 5, 2025. 

Sean Lechner, whose daughter competed on the Monroe High School volleyball team, said his daughter was forced to compete against, and change in the same locker room, as the biological male. 

“Ann Arbor Skyline played Monroe High School and won. Both schools failed to ensure fair competition, provide a safe environment and equal opportunity to participate in sex-separated athletic programs,” the complaint letter alleges. 

“My daughter was forced to share a locker room, where females undressed, with the male athlete. The presence of a male in the girls’ locker room was not disclosed prior to the match, constituting a violation of privacy and bodily integrity protections under Title IX,” the complaint continues.  

During a press conference held in Monroe on Monday, Lechner’s daughter Briley spoke about the incident. 

“We found out… weeks after that there was [a] male in the same locker room as us as we were changing and also playing against us. It caught everyone off guard… because nobody would have expected that,” Lechner said. “As I was looking at this person, admiring how amazing they were, admiring how high they could jump, I was kinda getting down on myself [wondering] why I’m not capable of that.” 

Controversy Around Ann Arbor Skyline High School 

As OutKick previously reported exclusively, the Skyline girls volleyball team had a trans-identifying biological male (who OutKick is not naming because the person is believed to be a minor) in its starting lineup. The team reached the Michigan Division 1 state quarterfinals before losing to Byron Center, but the athlete earned First Team All-Conference honors.

The status of transgender athletes in Michigan is in legislative limbo. Although the Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives has passed two bills to prohibit transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports, the Democrat-controlled state Senate has said it won’t even consider a ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

A Michigan parent filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education over a trans-identifying biological male on the Ann Arbor Skyline’s girls’ volleyball team.

(Getty Images)

While Michigan does not explicitly ban transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively does. As a public high school, Skyline could be subjected to a loss of federal funding if found to be in violation of that executive order.

Several schools, districts and athletic associations across the country are currently under investigation by the Department of Education for Title IX violations related to transgender athletes, but none are in the state of Michigan.

Lechner wants that to change, which is why he filed his complaint. 

Allegations of Athletic Director Hiding Information 

Lechner accused the Monroe athletic director, Chet Hesson, of lying about his awareness of a transgender player on Skyline’s team prior to Monroe’s match against them. 

“Hesson claimed in writing that he did not have prior knowledge of the athlete’s sex or gender identity. This was false, as confirmed by a staff member of the athletic community at Monroe High who came forward and provided information to Tom Heck, President of the Monroe Public School Board, in a statement that Chet knew the day before the match,” the complaint continues. 

OutKick reached out to Hesson after the Sept. 9 match to ask if Skyline made him aware that the school rostered a trans-identifying biological male. 

“Prior to the match on Tuesday, I was informed that a news outlet may attend the match, as a courtesy from the visiting team in case media presence might cause a distraction. I did not receive any disclosure from the visiting team about the gender identity of any individual athlete or athletes,” Hesson wrote in an email to OutKick on September 15. 

OutKick followed up with Hesson, asking if he pressed the Skyline AD further after being told national media might be in attendance for a regular season girls’ high school volleyball match. 

“I did speak with the AD, she shared that there was a news outlet that was concerned about trans-athletes in sport,” Hesson said in an email on Sept. 16. 

A Michigan parent filed a Title IX complaint after Skyline fielded a trans-identified athlete; the complaint alleges privacy and fairness violations and questions MHSAA compliance.

(OutKick)

Lechner claims that Hesson knew that Skyline had a trans-identifying player and chose not to share the information with Monroe’s players or parents. 

“By withholding this information, Hesson denied female athletes the opportunity to make informed decisions about their participation and privacy, violating Title IX’s protection against sex-based discrimination,” the complaint said. 

The Michigan Department of Education told OutKick that it “received the complaint and is reviewing it.” 

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), Ann Arbor Public Schools and Monroe Public Schools did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

However, OutKick obtained an internal email sent to staff by Monroe Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Shaw. In the email, Shaw said the district received a Title IX complaint Dec. 5 and has hired a third party to investigate, instructing staff not to comment until the review is complete.

What’s Next? 

As for Lechner’s ultimate goal in filing the complaint, he asked that the school district: 

1. Ban biological males from competing in female sports.
2. Ban biological males from entering female locker rooms during athletic competitions.
3. Conduct a full investigation into actions and communications of Ann Arbor Public Schools/Skyline High and Monroe Public Schools/Monroe High School/athletic director Chet Hesson, including potential Title IX violations.
4. Review compliance with MHSAA rules regarding participation of transgender athletes.
5. Establish and enforce clear protocols for:Locker room access and privacyParental notification for all matchesCompetitive safety when playing against male athletesTransparent communication between athletic administrators, coaching staff, and parents
6. Locker room access and privacy
7. Parental notification for all matches
8. Competitive safety when playing against male athletes
9. Transparent communication between athletic administrators, coaching staff, and parents
10. Provide a written report detailing findings, Title IX implications, and corrective measures

“Parents must have confidence that school administrators prioritize the safety, privacy, equitable treatment, and fairness of female athletes. The events of September 9th and October 25th, combined with the publicly reported impact of the Skyline male athlete, demonstrate administrative failures at both Skyline High and Monroe High that violate Title IX and MHSAA regulations and require immediate action,” the letter concludes. 

Lechner, other parents and young girls are asking for the bare minimum: follow Title IX and keep girls’ sports safe and fair. If even that is too much, we have lost the plot as a society.

Note: This story has been updated with additional information since original publication. 

A Monroe family, joined by several Michigan lawmakers, on Monday announced the filing of a Title IX complaint against Monroe Public Schools, Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Michigan High School Athletic Association, challenging a decision to allow a transgender athlete to play on Ann Arbor Skyline’s girls volleyball team and share locker room facilities during a match in the 2025 season.

The complaint, submitted by Sean Lechner alleges “serious administrative failures” by both districts and Monroe athletic director Chet Hesson, including ignoring safety protocols, withholding information, and disregarding student privacy, competitive fairness, MHSAA rules and federal Title IX requirements.

“This is purely about accountability, fairness and justice,” Sean Lechner said. “This is about privacy, safety and dignity of any and all female athletes. Schools do not have the right to hide the biological sex of a male student at the expense of any female student or athlete.”

State representatives James DeSana (R-Carleton), William Bruck (R-Erie Township), Rylee Linting (R-Grosse Ile Township), Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) and State Senator Joe Bellino, and Laura Perry, who is running for the Michigan House of Representatives, joined the complaint to discuss the filing and concerns raised.

The complaint has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, the MHSAA and Monroe Public Schools.

Sean Lechner, whose daughter, Briley, plays on the Monroe team, claims parents were not informed and that privacy and safety protocols were ignored. He said the complaint is also centered around arguments of unfair competition advantages and the violation of female athletes’ privacy.

“I’m speaking out today not just for my daughter, but for every family that was betrayed when the adults responsible failed to do their job,” Sean Lechner said. “This burden must not fall on the shoulders of teenage girls. It is now the responsibility of parents, school officials and lawmakers to step up.”

The complaint also alleges that Skyline allowed the athlete to compete without submitting the required waiver to the MHSAA for a trans female (male to female) to compete, raising concerns about Title IX compliance.

However, the MHSAA and AAPS have stated they do not provide confidential details about students, including eligibility status.

“Title IX was established to separate athletics by biological sex to ensure equal opportunity, competitive fairness and safety of female athletes,” Perry said during the press conference. “…One waiver in Michigan, one displaced female athlete on a varsity roster or starting lineup, one player of the match taken by a biological male, and one team advancing to the Elite Eight in the MHSAA tournament because of a male is one too many.”

Andrew Cluley, AAPS director of communications, said the district does not comment on ongoing litigation.

In a statement regarding the filing, Monroe administration said it has hired a third party to conduct a Title IX investigation to ensure transparency.

“The District has requested a third party to complete the Title IX investigation and provide a recommended determination,” the statement said. “The district has chosen to use a third party so that the investigation can be completed in a manner that allows for complete transparency from beginning to end. Monroe Public Schools has no further comment while the third party is conducting the investigation.”

Skyline and Monroe competed on Sept. 9, where Skyline won the match. The complaint alleges that the two teams shared a locker room at Monroe for the match, but parents were not informed of a transgender athlete on Skyline’s team until afterwards.

The two teams also competed in a match during a conference meet on Oct. 25 but did not share a locker room.

“This was definitely very devastating for all of us girls,” Briley Lechner said during the press conference. “This person did disguise themselves to look like a female, so when we found out weeks after that there was another male in the same locker room as us, as we are changing and also playing against us, it caught everyone off guard and it was very changing because nobody would have expected that that would have been the last thought.

“Because as I was looking at this person, admiring how amazing they were, admiring how high they could jump, I was kind of getting down to myself, like, I wonder why I’m not capable of that. So, it’s definitely very like changing to see that.”

Skyline’s team went onto win a Division 1 regional title and advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2021.

Ahead of the quarterfinal match against Byron Center last month, 14 lawmakers signed a letter asking the MHSAA to provide proof of a transgender athlete’s eligibility to compete on Skyline’s team.

Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA director of communications, told MLive/The Ann Arbor News that the organization granted one waiver for a transgender athlete to compete this fall but could not provide specifics about which school or sport due to privacy concerns.

The MHSAA granted two waivers for the 2024 fall sports season, Kimmerly said.

Kimmerly added in a statement that the association has been in discussions with lawmakers as it navigates conflicting state and federal guidance on transgender athlete eligibility.

He emphasized that the MHSAA must follow the law and rely on courts or the legislature when conflicts arise.

“The MHSAA has communicated with members of the state legislature throughout the fall about this issue, as the legal landscape in this area – under both federal and state law – remains unsettled, and state and federal guidance have evolved in recent years often in competing ways,” Kimmerly said. “…The MHSAA has consistently emphasized that it must follow the law, and when conflicts in law arise, the MHSAA must rely upon the legislature or the courts to provide clarity.”

The MHSAA has pointed to legal conflicts between Trump’s executive order seeking to ban transgender women from female sports and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which protects against gender identity discrimination, as an area needing clarification.

However, Perry said the MHSAA should be following federal law over state law.

“The state of Michigan hides behind the unintended consequences of Elliot Larson and proceeds as though state law trumps federal law,” Perry said. “Federal executive order is being ignored and the buck stops here when the real adults in the room, everybody that showed up here today and everybody behind me, says that this can and will not happen again.”

Linting, who sponsored a two-bill package with Jason Woolford (R-Howell), said the goal is to change policies by banning biological men from competing in women’s sports in Michigan and revising the Elliott-Larsen Act to make such a ban enforceable.

The MHSAA determines eligibility for transgender female athletes on a case-by-case basis, requiring schools to submit documentation at least 30 days before tournament deadlines.

Required materials include school records, medical and psychological information, details on hormone therapy or surgery and a signed waiver allowing disclosure of protected records for eligibility review.

“For more than 50 years, no organization in Michigan has worked harder to expand, support and protect athletic opportunities for girls and young women than the MHSAA – a commitment that has guided our work for decades and remains unchanged today,” Kimmerly said in the MHSAA statement.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on cases involving athletics and transgender participation on Jan. 13, 2026, which could provide more clarification in this ongoing matter.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Coming off a 2-0 week for Upstate Men’s Basketball, the Big South Conference announced weekly awards where the Spartans were featured with Mason Bendinger being announced as the Big South Co-Player of the Week. 

The Junior from Salt Lake City, Utah averaged 21.0 points through both games played through the week of Dec. 1- Dec. 6 where he added his career-high of 27 points shooting 7-for-16 from the field and a career-high of 12 made free throws in the overtime win against Coastal Carolina. Bendinger’s three-pointer and layup under the 10-minute mark nearly exploded the roof off the G.B. Hodge Center helping the Spartans tie the game against the Chants with the momentum ultimately carrying Upstate through the second half and finishing the job in overtime. Bendinger followed up with a 15-point performance in Saturday’s win against Western Carolina shooting 5-for-9 from the field, 5-for-7 from the charity stripe, added a season-high of six rebounds and one block. Mason Bendinger is currently ranked #7 in the Big South, averaging 16.1 points per game while being ranked #15 in the NCAA with 70 field goals scored. Through 11 games played, Bendinger has scored in double figures through 10 games played while adding three 20+ point performances and six 15+ point performances. Bendinger has continued to become more accustomed to Division I Basketball along with finding his footing in the Marty Richter system with three-level scoring that he provides on a nightly basis. This marks the first weekly honor for Bendinger as he continues to grow with Upstate.  

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INVEST IN CHAMPIONS – Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here! 

2025 NCAA Women’s Div I Volleyball Tournament Glance All Times EST

First Round

Thursday, Dec. 4

No. 4 Colorado def. American, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16

No. 4 Kansas def. High Point, 25-20, 25-15, 25-18

No. 6 Baylor def. Arkansas St., 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 23-25, 15-10

No. 5 Miami (FL) def. Tulsa, 25-22, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. Toledo, 25-18, 25-15, 25-17

North Carolina def. No. 6 UTEP, 24-26, 25-11, 25-18, 25-21

No. 8 UCLA def. Georgia Tech, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10

No. 6 N. Iowa def. Utah, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20, 15-10

Utah St. def. No. 7 Tennessee, 25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11

No. 3 Purdue def. Wright St., 25-13, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Kentucky def. Wofford, 25-11, 25-19, 25-12

Cal Poly def. No. 5 BYU, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10

No. 3 Creighton def. Northern Colorado, 25-12, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-8

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Coppin St., 25-11, 25-14, 25-12

No. 4 Southern Cal def. Princeton, 25-19, 25-12, 25-13

No. 3 Wisconsin def. Eastern Ill., 25-11, 25-6, 25-19

Friday, Dec. 5

Marquette def. No. 7 W. Kentucky, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16

Michigan def. No. 8 Xavier, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23

Kansas St. def. No. 8 San Diego vs., 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-22, 15-12

No. 6 TCU def. Steven F. Austin St., 25-8, 26-24, 25-20

Florida def. No. 7 Rice, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19

No. 5 Iowa St. def. St. Thomas (Minn.), 21-25, 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 15-8

No. 8 Penn St. def. South Florida, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21, 25-19

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13

No. 2 Louisville def. Loyola Chicago, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

No. 2 SMU def. Cent. Arkansas, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13

No. 3 Texas A&M def. Campbell, 25-17, 25-9, 25-12

Arizona def. No. 7 South Dakota St., 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-15

No. 1 Nebraska def. LIU, 25-11, 25-15, 25-17

No. 1 Texas def. Florida A&M, 25-11, 25-8, 25-14

No. 4 Minnesota def. Fairfield, 25-12, 25-7, 25-13

No. 2 Stanford def. Utah Valley, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 25-14

Second Round

Friday, Dec. 5

No. 3 Purdue def. No. 6 Baylor, 25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20

No. 4 Indiana def. No. 5 Colorado, 25-20, 25-17, 25-13

No. 1 Kentucky def. No. 8 UCLA, 30-25, 25-16, 28-30, 25-17

No. 4 Kansas def. No. 5 Miami, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25

No. 3 Creighton def. N. Iowa, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21

No. 2 Arizona St. def. Utah St., 25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15

No. 3 Wisconsin def. North Carolina, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25

Cal Poly def. No. 4 Southern Cal, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 15-7

Saturday, Dec. 6

No. 2 Louisville def. Marquette, 21-15, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12

No. 1 Pittsburgh def. Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18

No. 1 Texas def. No. 8 Penn St., 25-16, 25-9, 25-19

No. 1 Nebraska def. Kansas St., 25-17, 25-21, 25-16

No. 2 SMU def. Florida, 25-11, 25-21, 26-24

No. 3 Texas A&M def. TCU, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 29-27

No. 4 Minnesota def. No. 5 Iowa St., 25-22, 25-21, 25-14

No. 2 Stanford def. Arizona, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20

Third Round

Thursday, Dec. 11

No. 2 Arizona State vs. No. 3 Creighton, 1 p.m.

No. 1 Kentucky vs. Cal Poly, 3:30 p.m.

No. 1 Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 Minnesota, 7 p.m.

No. 2 SMU vs. No. 3 Purdue, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 12

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Indiana, noon

No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 3 Wisconsin, 2:30 p.m.

No. 2 Louisville vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

No. 1 Nebraska vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:30 p.m.

Copyright
© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

For a third consecutive year, Purdue’s volleyball team is headed to the Regional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers defeated Wright State in the opening round and took down Baylor in the second round to advance to college volleyball’s Sweet 16, where they’ll face a familiar foe.

No. 3 seed Purdue will travel to Pittsburgh to play No. 2 seed SMU on Thursday, Dec. 11. The two teams played earlier this season in Lexington, Ky., with the Boilers pulling out a 3-1 victory over the Mustangs. The winner of the match will play the winner of No. 1 Pitt and No. 4 Minnesota, with a trip to the National Semifinals hanging in the balance.

Purdue’s match against SMU will be the second matchup of the night in Pittsburhg. Host Pitt will play Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET, with the Boilermakers and Mustangs scheduled to play 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match.

Both matches will air on ESPN2.

Here’s a look at what you need to know for Thursday’s match between Purdue and SMU.

How to watch No. 3 Purdue vs. No. 2 SMU

• What: NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal Round
• Who: #3 Purdue (26-6) vs. #2 SMU (27-5)
• When: Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025
• Where: Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa. (4,122 capacity)
• Time: 30 minutes after conclusion of Pitt-Minnesota match (approx. 9 p.m. ET)
• TV: ESPN2

Purdue beats SMU earlier this year

Thursday night’s matchup between No. 3 Purdue and No. 2 SMU will be the second time the two teams have met on the volleyball court this season. The two squads also played in Lexington on Sept. 14, just a few weeks into the 2025 season.

Ranked No. 14 at the time, that was Purdue’s biggest win of the season to that point, taking down an SMU team that was ranked No. 10 nationally. The Boilers had to rally to win that match, too.

The Mustangs took the first set 25-23, but the Boilermakers responded in a big way. The churned out tight victories in the next two sets, defeating SMU 25-22 in the second and 27-25 in the third. Purdue had a convincing 25-18 fourth-set win to close out the match.

While a lot has happened in the three months since they last played, Purdue will carry confidence into this match, knowing it’s capable of beating a team like SMU. The Mustangs, on the other hand, will be looking for revenge against a team that defeated them early in the season.

It should make for a fun postseason matchup on Thursday.

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BOILERS BEAT BAYLOR TO ADVANCE: For a third consecutive season, Purdue is headed to the NCAA Regional Semifinal. The Boilermakers punched their ticket with a 3-1 win over Baylor. CLICK HERE

ANDERSON POWERS PURDUE: Senior outside hitter Akasha Anderson had a big night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, powering Purdue to a win over Wright State. CLICK HERE