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UND Volleyball signs two for 2025 season

Published

7 months ago

June 19, 2025

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota volleyball head coach Jesse Tupac has announced the addition of Autumn Jordan and An Lieve den Hamer to the Fighting Hawks program for the 2025 season.
The Fighting Hawks add an outside hitter from Arkansas and an opposite hitter from the Netherlands.

Head Coach Jesse Tupac on the signees:
“We could not be more excited to announce two new additions to our fall roster. Our recruiting coordinator, Kristen Tupac, did a phenomenal job bringing in two transfers that will make an immediate and lasting impact on our program. Both Autumn and An bring high level experience from their collegiate and prep programs; and will add intense competition and depth to an already exciting fall roster. The 2025 season is lining up to be a very fun year of volleyball, and we cannot wait to get started. Go Hawks!”

Autumn Jordan | 6-2 | OH/OPP | Bentonville, Ark. | Bentonville West HS / Stephen F. Austin
Jordan comes to UND with a resume full of achievements at the prep level. A two-time All-Conference selection and the 6A Tournament MVP, she helped lead her teams to several playoff runs, culminating in a national championship in 2022 with the Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team twice, earned Player of the Match honors four times, was a seven-time Player of the Week, the West All-Star Player, and was named to the 6A West All-Conference team during her high school career. She averaged 1.90 blocks per set in her senior season, leading her team in that category.
Off the court, Jordan graduated Cum Laude and earned the Bentonville Community Scholarship award. She plans to major in kinesiology at UND.

Jordan on why she chose UND:
“I chose UND because of the immediate love and respect I received from the players and coaches. You see and hear a lot within the recruiting process, but nothing spoke to me more than the family feel I immediately got from the group. The coaching staff is honest and very transparent, and that’s exactly what I was looking for during my new journey.”

Coach J. Tupac on Jordan:
“Autumn is a rock star human being and a physical presence on both sides of the ball. Her size and ability to score points on both pins are impressive. On top of that, she is a one-of-a-kind person who will fit in with our team and program immediately. We cannot wait for Autumn to join us in Grand Forks.”

An Lieve den Hamer | 6-0 | OPP | Apeldoorn, Netherlands | Veluws College Walterbosch / Arizona
Den Hamer arrives in Grand Forks with a diverse background, having developed her game in the Netherlands before continuing her academic and athletic career at the University of Arizona. She trained with the top division with SV Dynamo Apeldoorn for 11 years for coach Rémon ter Harmsel. The Netherlands native trained with the Dutch national youth team in 2020. She helped the SV Dynamo place first at the Internation Youth Tournament in 2018 and 2022. The opposite hitter also was a National Champion with SV Dynamo in Girl 17U in 2022-23. While playing with her 15U team in 2019 she placed first at the United World Games Klagenfurt.
As a freshman at Arizona, she appeared in one set against Texas Southern where she recorded one kill.
She plans to major in marketing at UND.

Lieve den Hamer on why she chose UND
“The vibes and energy at UND are amazing. I felt a good connection with the coaches, I love the goals, and I am so excited to get to work.”

Coach J. Tupac on Lieve den Hamer:
“From the first conversation we had with An we knew she was a fit for our program. She is incredibly hungry to compete and make history. And it was clear our values and goals were perfectly aligned. Along with her season of NCAA play at Arizona, she brings a wealth of experiences internationally as both an outside hitter and opposite. We are very excited to have An joining our program this fall.”

For more information on North Dakota Volleyball, follow on social media @UNDvolleyball or visit FightingHawks.com.

— UND —

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Emerald Acres Volleyball Tournament | MyRadioLink.com

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1 hour ago

January 2, 2026

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Emerald Acres Volleyball Tournament | MyRadioLink.com

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Former Illini basketball sharpshooter Luke Goode engaged to Illinois volleyball star Kayla Burbage

Published

2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Love is in the air for two of Champaign’s top athletes in recent years. Former Illini men’s basketball wing Luke Goode popped the question to Illinois volleyball middle blocker Kayla Burbage, the couple shared via Instagram on Wednesday.

“Proverbs 18:22: ‘He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord,’” Goode wrote. “Going into the New Years as future Mr. and Mrs. Goode!”

Goode spent the first three years of his college career in Champaign, graduating from the Gies School of Business in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. After his sophomore season was cut short due to a foot injury, Goode bounced back as a junior, playing in all 38 games for the 2024 Elite Eight team. That season, the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter averaged 5.7 points and shot 38.9% from three on just over four attempts per game.

Last season, Goode spent his final year of eligibility playing for his home state Indiana Hoosiers before turning pro. He is currently suiting up for the South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League. In 11 games so far as a rookie, Goode is putting up 7.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in just above 20 minutes per game.

Burbage just finished up her final season of college volleyball. After spending her freshman campaign at Missouri, Burbage decided to make the move to Champaign. As a sophomore and junior, Burbage played in every match on Illinois’ schedule: 60 total. A shoulder injury sidelined the 6-foot-4 North Carolina native for her senior season, but she returned for a graduate year in 2025. In her final season at Huff Hall, Burbage ranked second in total blocks (82.0) for the Illini and had the fifth-most kills on the team (98).

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Hawkeyes Knock Down Nebraska – Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics

Published

2 hours ago

January 2, 2026

Your Sports Nation

IOWA CITY, Iowa – No. 14 Iowa (12-2, 3-0) defeated No. 20 Nebraska (12-2, 1-2) on New Years Day inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 86-76.

Sophomore Chit-Chat Wright dominated the day for the Hawkeyes with a career-high 24 points, three assists, and two steals. Senior Hannah Stuelke followed with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists to notch her third double-double of the season.

The Huskers came out to a fast-paced 8-0 run to start the game. Stuelke got the scoring started for Iowa by getting to the line, sinking both free-throws. Three minutes into gameplay, the Hawkeyes began to capitalize on Nebraska miscues. Sophomore Ava Heiden led a 7-0 run for Iowa to bring the gap to 9-12 with 4:46 left in the quarter. The Huskers contained a narrow 21-18 lead headed into the second quarter.

Wright drained a three-pointer to start the second period, tying up the score for the first time on the day. The Hawkeyes went on to gain nine points on seven forced Husker turnovers in the half. Heiden led the quarter with eight points going 4-for-4 on field goals. A combined 26 points, shooting 66.7 percent in the quarter, left Iowa behind 44-45 at half.

The Hawkeyes came out of the locker room with an 8-2 run to put them in front. Iowa forced four Husker turnovers in the first three minutes of the third quarter, capitalizing five points off of them. Stuelke continued to be a difference maker for Iowa with seven points and two rebounds. This momentum pushed Iowa up 64-61 heading into the fourth.

In the final quarter, the Hawkeyes continued their defensive pursuit, forcing five more turnovers, adding to their total of 18 on the day. Senior Taylor McCabe hit a three-point basket at 4:32 to power Iowa to the end. The Hawkeyes pushed out a 15-6 run to secure a Hawkeye victory.

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Dallas Pulse set to make history in season opener at Comerica Center

Published

4 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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North Texas’ first women’s professional volleyball team will officially launch its inaugural season on Saturday, Jan. 10.

DALLAS — For North Texas volleyball fans, Saturday’s season opener represents more than just a first serve, it’s the beginning of something the region has been waiting for.

The Dallas Pulse, the region’s first women’s professional volleyball team, will open its inaugural season Saturday, Jan. 10, hosting the Indiana franchise at Comerica Center in Frisco.

The matchup marks the first Major League Volleyball game played by a Dallas-based team and is a milestone moment for the metroplex.

The Pulse will play 14 home matches during the 2026 Major League Volleyball season, giving local fans a consistent opportunity to support a women’s pro team built in their own backyard.

Saturday, Jan. 10 – Indy
Thursday, Jan. 15 – San Diego
Thursday, Feb. 5 – Omaha
Sunday, Feb. 8 – Grand Rapids
Thursday, Feb. 19 – Indy
Sunday, Feb. 22 – Grand Rapids
Friday, Feb. 27 – Orlando
Friday, March 13 – Columbus
Sunday, March 15 – Atlanta
Saturday, March 21 – San Diego
Thursday, March 26 – Atlanta
Friday, April 17 – Columbus
Friday, May 1 – Omaha
Sunday, May 3 – Orlando

Leading the team into its first season is head coach Shannon Winzer, who was named to the role in September. The January debut places Dallas at the center of the league’s early growth as women’s professional volleyball continues to gain momentum nationwide.

The timing feels right for North Texas. The region has long been a volleyball hotbed, producing elite athletes through nationally recognized club programs, championship high school teams and top-tier collegiate programs. Until now, many of those players, and the fans who followed them, had no local professional team to rally behind.

Dallas Pulse leadership told WFAA that they hope to change that.

Season ticket deposits are currently open, and the Pulse holds the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Volleyball Draft scheduled for Nov. 24, giving the team a chance to add a cornerstone player ahead of its debut season.

Major League Volleyball is also preparing for future growth, announcing plans to add expansion teams in Washington, D.C. and Northern California in 2027.

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Iola outside hitter takes top honor on Texas 2A all-state volleyball team | APG State News

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4 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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Tritons Set for Preseason North American Challenge

Published

6 hours ago

January 2, 2026

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LONG BEACH, Calif. — UC San Diego men’s volleyball will prepare for the upcoming season with four exhibitions this weekend as part of the North American Challenge. The event will be hosted by Long Beach State on Friday and Sunday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid.

The Tritons will play two Canadian sides, Alberta and Calagry. They will play each team once on both days of the challenge.

SCHEDULE

Friday, Jan. 2

2 PM – vs Calgary

4:30 PM – vs Alberta

Sunday, Jan. 4

12:30 PM – vs Alberta

3 PM – vs Calgary

Live stats for all four matches will be available HERE. Fans interested in attending matches can purchase tickets through Long Beach State HERE.

UP NEXT
The Tritons open the 2026 season at home next Tuesday, Jan. 6. Jessup will visit LionTree Arena for a match that begins at 7 PM.

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 has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.