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University of Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota volleyball team has announced its 2025 non-conference schedule. The Gophers will compete in 11 non-league games from Aug. 25 through Sept. 21 before Big Ten play begins on Sept. 24. “We’re thrilled to finally be able to announce our non-conference schedule,” said head coach Keegan Cook. “It’s been a tremendous amount of work and […]

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota volleyball team has announced its 2025 non-conference schedule. The Gophers will compete in 11 non-league games from Aug. 25 through Sept. 21 before Big Ten play begins on Sept. 24.

“We’re thrilled to finally be able to announce our non-conference schedule,” said head coach Keegan Cook. “It’s been a tremendous amount of work and I want to give special thanks to assistant coach Pedro Mendes for the work he did to bring it together.”

Year three of the Keegan Cook era in Minneapolis officially kicks off with the AVCA First Serve event against Texas A&M on Monday, Aug. 25. The match will be played at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

“Our non-conference schedule priorities were both numerous and specific for fall 2025,” said Cook. “First and foremost we want a schedule that allows us to develop our team and prepare them for Big Ten play. 11 matches over five weeks gives us that opportunity. We will be a better team after these five weeks of competition.”

The Gophers will then head home to take on Cal Poly, Ball State and St. Thomas in a three-day tournament at Maturi Pavilion. Each team in the event will play a match each day from Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Aug. 31. B1G+ will stream the event.

Minnesota will play two matches in Nashville, Tenn., the next weekend, playing at Vanderbilt on Friday, Sept. 6 and at Lipscomb on Saturday, Sept. 7. The 2025 season will be Vanderbilt’s first season competing in Division I volleyball. Both match times are to be determined.

The Diet Coke Classic will take place from Friday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Sept. 14 at Maturi Pavilion. The Gophers will host South Florida, Dayton and South Dakota State in another three-day event. Each opponent will get the chance to play one another and B1G+ will stream.

“This schedule needs to position our program to earn a seed and host the NCAA tournament in the Pav again. Our 2025 non-conference opponents cumulative win percentage was over .700 in 2024, with many of the teams returning their core contributors. We sought to schedule programs with winning traditions and cultures, and we achieved that,” said Cook.

Minnesota’s preseason slate closes with a pair of regional road games against 2024 NCAA Tournament teams in Loyola Chicago and Marquette. The match with Loyola Chicago will be on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. while the match against the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee will be at 1 p.m. CT.

Of the Gophers 2025 opponents, Dayton, Marquette and Texas A&M made the Sweet 16 in 2024. Loyola Chicago and South Dakota State each made the NCAA Tournament as well, with the Ramblers upsetting No. 5-seeded BYU in a first round sweep.

Six of Minnesota’s 11 matches will be at home, giving the Gophers 16 total home matches, including Big Ten play.

“We knew we wanted more non-conference home matches in the Pav,” said Cook. “The support from our community and season ticket holders has been incredible these past seasons, and getting the team in front of them six times was a priority.”

Television networks are still to be determined and information on tickets will be available at a later date.

“We want to give our athletes unique, challenging and memorable road matches. The matches against Texas A&M, Lipscomb, Vanderbilt, Loyola Chicago, and Marquette are exactly that,” said Cook. 

In 2024, the team finished with a 21-11 (13-7 Big Ten) record, a four-win improvement from the year prior. Minnesota made its 10th straight NCAA Tournament and fell in the Round of 32 to Kentucky. The ‘U’ earned top-10 wins over then No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Wisconsin, both in five sets. It was the first time Minnesota defeated a No. 1 ranked team since 2019 and the program’s second straight home win over Wisconsin.

2025 Non-Conference Schedule:

Mon. Aug, 25.: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 16 Texas A&M in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Sanford Pentagon) – TBA

Friday, Aug. 29: St. Thomas vs. Ball State – 3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 29: No. 18 Minnesota vs. Cal Poly – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30: Cal Poly vs. St. Thomas – 2 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30: No. 18 Minnesota vs. Ball State – 5 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 31: Cal Poly vs. Ball St – 11 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 31: No. 18 Minnesota vs. St. Thomas – 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5: No. 18 Minnesota at Vanderbilt – TBA

Saturday, Sept. 6: No. 18 Minnesota at Lipscomb – TBA

Friday, Sept. 12: South Dakota State vs. Dayton – 3 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12: No. 18 Minnesota vs. South Florida – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13: South Florida vs. South Dakota State – 2 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 17 Dayton – 5 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 14: No. 17 Dayton vs. South Florida – 11 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 14: No. 18 Minnesota vs. South Dakota State – 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 19: No. 18 Minnesota at Loyola Chicago – 6 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 21: No. 18 Minnesota at No. 21 Marquette – 1 p.m.

*2024 AVCA Final Ranking

Non-Conference Schedule Notes:

-Matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 3

-Road/Neutral matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 2

-Home matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 1

-Matches against 2024 NCAA Tournament Teams: 5

-Matches against 2024 Sweet 16 Teams: 3

-Team records: .730 combined win percentage of Minnesota’s opponents in 2024



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Who are the golden girls of Water Polo – The stories of the 15 Women who took Greece to the Top of the World

Is water polo our national sport? Based on our successes at both the club and national levels, it just might be. Greece has won Champions League titles in men’s and women’s water polo and has also achieved major successes with the national teams. Water polo is the only sport in the country with Olympic medals […]

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Is water polo our national sport? Based on our successes at both the club and national levels, it just might be.

Greece has won Champions League titles in men’s and women’s water polo and has also achieved major successes with the national teams.

Water polo is the only sport in the country with Olympic medals – both in men’s and women’s competitions. In 2004 in Athens, the women took silver, and the men did the same in 2021 in Tokyo.

Greece now has two gold medals in Women’s World Championships and four medals in the Men’s. These triumphs began in the 1990s and continue to this day.

The girls who won gold at the World Championship in Singapore grew up with youth national team successes, inspired by past generations that made history in major tournaments.

In Greece, water polo is a… family sport. If the father played polo, the son or daughter is likely to play too. In the Singapore squad, girls like Maria Patra, Dionysia Koureta, Stefania Santa, and Athina Giannopoulou come from polo families.

Here are the 15 women who made history in Singapore:

Ioanna Stamatopoulou

Born in Piraeus with roots in Ilia, Ioanna will one day tell her children about winning gold at the World Championship and being voted Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
She starred in the knockout rounds, especially in the final.
She started at Ethnikos and moved early to Olympiacos, where she made history in Greece and Europe, forming a long-standing duo with Chrysoula Diamantopoulou.
Now 27, she plays for Alimos.

Eleftheria Plevritou

The captain. She’s won nearly everything—except for an Olympic medal, which she hopes to claim in Los Angeles.
A brilliant attacker with sharp game sense, despite being only 28. She moved to Piraeus from Thessaloniki as a teen with her family.
Her older sister Margarita was a former national team captain, and her younger sister Vasiliki is also a world champion.
She played for years at Olympiacos, dominating Greece and Europe, and recently moved to Ferencváros in Budapest.
She studied Shipping at Piraeus University and considers coach Haris Pavlidis a second father.

Fotini Triha

What can one say about Fotini Triha? Only 20 years old and already a world champion.
She was also the tournament’s top scorer with 25 goals.
She scored 6 goals against Hungary in the opener, 5 against both Croatia and France—unstoppable.
She transferred from Nireas Chalandriou to Olympiacos and was coached by Olympic silver medalist Eftychia Karagianni.
She began playing in Marousi.

Stefania Santa

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree—daughter of Petre Santa, a legendary left-hander in Greek water polo.
Born in Romania, she has lived most of her life in Greece and proudly wears the blue and white.
Now 21, she plays for Olympiacos and is known for her powerful shot and playmaking skills.

Athina Giannopoulou

Daughter of Akis Giannopoulos, a goalkeeper for A.N.O. Glyfada’s historic team.
She helped Vouliagmeni win the Greek Championship and will play for Spain’s Sabadell next season.
She’s a scoring attacker, currently studying Business Administration, and speaks Spanish.
Her uncle is Kyriakos Giannopoulos, president of the Greek Swimming Federation.

Eleni Xenaki

A top-class center forward and left-hander—an invaluable combo in water polo.
Voted MVP of the final against Hungary.
Her mother, Mary Voulgari, also played polo at Ethnikos, but Eleni has long surpassed her.
A product of Vouliagmeni, she also played for Olympiacos and returned to N.O.V., with whom she won this year’s championship.

Eirini Ninou

A prolific scorer, started at Olympiacos and later played for Vouliagmeni, Glyfada, and Ethnikos.
She dreamed of being a polo player and studying architecture. At 16, she debuted in the World Championship in South Korea. Now, at 23, she’s a world champion.
She admires Giannis Antetokounmpo and reads Dan Brown religiously.

Maria Patra

Daughter of Vangelis Patras, a former star goalkeeper.
Unlike her father, she plays in defense and excels there.
She started at Panionios, spent years at Vouliagmeni, and now plays for Alimos.

Christina Siouti

A 21-year-old from Olympiacos’ youth system.
Began at Milon Neas Smyrnis, learned defense and goal-scoring early.
Plays with No. 7 at Olympiacos, No. 9 for Greece.
She played in the World Championship with a broken toe—an inspiring display.
She’s studying medicine.

Vasiliki Plevritou

The youngest of the Plevritou sisters.
The only one still playing for Olympiacos, she came from Thessaloniki as a little girl and became one of Europe’s best.
Known for her finesse shots and raw power.
On her sixth World Championship appearance, she finally reached the top.
She studies dentistry.

Sofia Tornarou

Another Olympiacos product who was trusted early by coach Haris Pavlidis.
Now 21, she also played for Ethnikos and Nireas Chalandriou.
Started as a center forward but now plays defense.

Maria Myriokefalitaki

Her powerful 6-meter goal against Australia secured Greece’s semifinal spot.
She cried after the goal, moving the entire nation.
At 24, she’s a dominant center forward from Rethymno, playing for Olympiacos.
Wins ejections, scores goals, defends hard, and follows coach Antonis Vlontakis’ every instruction.

Alexia-Eugenia Tzourka

The second goalkeeper of the national team.
She joined for the World Cup in China and won gold on Easter Day.
Plays for Ethnikos, 28 years old. This was her World Championship debut.
She celebrated her birthday (July 23) with a gold medal—what better gift?

Dionysia Koureta

A rising talent from Patras, daughter of former NOP and Olympiacos player Michalis Koureta, now a referee.
Her uncle is Thessaly governor Dimitris Koureta.
A center forward, she plays for Olympiacos.
This was her first World Championship, and she’s also played for NE Patras and Glyfada.

Nefeli Krassa

The youngest player on the team, born in January 2008—still not 17.
Coach Haris Pavlidis included her in the squad for the first time in a World Championship, and she’s proven her potential with the youth national teams.
Now, she’s a world champion.
She plays for Nautical Club of Vouliagmeni.

These 15 remarkable athletes brought glory to Greece—each with a unique story, yet all bound by talent, resilience, and the love of the game.

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USOPC Follows Trump Order Banning Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its official policy Monday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports across all of its governing bodies. The USOPC changed its stance citing President Trump’s February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The Department of Justice has sued Maine and California for policies it […]

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The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee updated its official policy Monday to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports across all of its governing bodies.

The USOPC changed its stance citing President Trump’s February executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The Department of Justice has sued Maine and California for policies it says violate the executive order and Title IX.

The committee quietly published its policy on its website Monday before confirming it in an email to member organizations the next day.

“The USOPC is committed to protecting opportunities for athletes participating in sport,” the new policy reads. “The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities, e.g., IOC, IPC, NGBs, to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C § 22501, et. seq.”

The Ted Stevens Act, initially passed in 1978 but amended several times since, established the USOPC and outlined its responsibilities.

USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and president Gene Sykes confirmed the change in their Tuesday email to the “Team USA Community.” They wrote the USOPC had “a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials” since Trump’s executive order.

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” the email said. “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment.”

The new rules won’t just have an impact at the Olympic level. National governing bodies, which include organizations like USA Swimming and USA Fencing, are often involved at the lowest levels of their sport all the way up to the Olympics. USA Fencing has already taken the policy a step further by saying athletes “of the female sex” can compete in women’s categories, while the men’s category is open to all other athletes (cisgender men, transgender men and women, and nonbinary and intersex individuals).

Shortly after the executive order, the NCAA made a similar move to limit women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. The new IOC president Kirsty Coventry has also said she wants her organization to be a leader in the effort to “protect the female category.”

The post USOPC Follows Trump Order Banning Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports appeared first on Front Office Sports.

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Amstutz Finalizes Inaugural Roster Ahead of 2025 Season

Story Links CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University first-year head volleyball coach Evan Amstutz finalized the 2025 volleyball roster with the addition of nine newcomers, Wednesday. Nya Browne | USC Upstate | Nashville, Tenn. From just down I-24, Nya Browne joins the Governors after spending three seasons at USC […]

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University first-year head volleyball coach Evan Amstutz finalized the 2025 volleyball roster with the addition of nine newcomers, Wednesday.

Nya Browne | USC Upstate | Nashville, Tenn.

From just down I-24, Nya Browne joins the Governors after spending three seasons at USC Upstate, where she appeared in 24 sets across 13 matches. She had a career-high four kills against UNC Asheville, Nov. 12, 2024 and six blocks against Charleston Southern, Nov. 2, 2024. Browne prepped at Hume-Fogg High School where she was a TCCAA All-State, All-Region, and All-District selection in her senior season in 2021. She also played for the Alliance Volleyball Club under coach Abbey West, where she was a team captain and a member of the 2022 second place USAV National Team. 

Dayan Malavé | Youngstown State | Manati, Puerto Rico

Hailing from Manati, Puerto Rico, Dayan Malavé joins the Govs after spending three seasons at Youngstown State. During her time with the Penguins, Malavé appeared in 314 sets across 83 matches, where she had 376 kills for an average of 1.20 per set with a career-high of 12 at UConn, Aug. 31, 2024. She ended her career at YSU with a .268 hitting percentage and with 257 blocks, with a career-high of seven in five matches. Prior to her time with the Penguins, Malavé spent the 2020-21 seasons at Iowa Western Community College, where she appeared in 188 sets across 58 matches and was a part of back-to-back NJCAA National Championship teams. She had a hitting percentage of .375 in her two seasons at Iowa Western, with an average of 2.41 kills and 1.09 blocks per set. 

Taylor Sass | Hillsborough CC | Tampa, Fla.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Taylor Sass comes to Clarksville after spending two seasons at Hillsborough Community College where she appeared in 202 sets across 60 matches. She totaled 584 kills in two seasons with an average of 2.89 per set, with a career-high 23 kills against Blinn College, Sept. 7, 2024. She had a .182 hitting percentage overall, with a .229 percentage in her sophomore season. Sass totaled 457 digs in her time at Hillsborough, with 240 digs in her freshman campaign.

Nicole Okojie | Prosper HS | Prosper, Texas

From Prosper, Texas, Nicole Okojie comes to Clarksville after her prep career at Prosper High School where she was a 6-A honorable mention. 

Sarah Butler | Naperville Central HS | Naperville, Ill.

Hailing from Naperville, Illinois, Sarah Butler joins the Governors after prepping at Naperville Central High School under head coach Brie Isaacson. Butler compiled 1,815 assists in her four-year career and was named a Naperville Sun 2023 All-Area Team Honorable Mention and a 2024 All-Area Team selection. She was also named to the Illinois Prep Volleyball top 150 High School Players of 2024 List, best of the class of 2025, and on the PrepVolleyball.com 2025 Watchlist.

Remmi Cooke | Nelson County HS | Bardstown, Ky.

Remmi Cooke joins the Governors after prepping at Nelson County High School. The Bardstown, Kentucky native ended her career with over 1,000 kills and a state record of 44 kills in the 2A State Championship match. Cooke was a two-time Kentucky state MVP, a three-time all-district team member, a three-time 2A All-Region Team selection, and a part of the KVCA Second Team.

Peyton Liming | Park Hill South HS | Parkville, Mo.

Peyton Liming comes to Clarksville after prepping at Park Hill South High School where she played under coach Barbra Bell. During her prep career, Liming surpassed 1,000 kills in four seasons and had 30 kills in a five-set match which was a program record. The Parkville, Missouri native was an All-Conference Gold Division and All-District Gold Division selection from 2021-25. Outside of Park Hill South High School, Liming played for the MAVS KC 19 Elite Club team for coach Kelley Kelley. 

Brooklynn Merrell | Obra D. Tompkins HS | Katy, Texas

Brooklynn Merrel joins the Governors after prepping at Obra D. Tompkins High School where she played for her mother, Allison Merrel. A native of Katy, Texas, Merrel went to the state finals in 2022 as a sophomore and was a first-team all district team selection and a second team selection in 2021. 

Sianna Dykes | Howland HS | Warren, Ohio

Sianna Dykes joins the squad after prepping at Howland High School for coach Amanda Lingenfelter. The Warren, Ohio native was an All-Ohio Honorable mention in 2024 and holds the school record for most blocks in a season with 98. Dykes was named the district and conference Player of the Year for the 2024 season. 

The Governors are back in action at 2 p.m., Aug. 24 for an exhibition against Tusculum and then host the Stacheville Challenge for their first home matches of the regular season, Aug. 29-30, in the Winfield Dunn Center.


 



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Five-time state champ Keyanna O’Tey will run for University of Michigan

STURGIS — Keyanna O’Tey will go down as one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of Sturgis High School. She earned it, posting five state championships during her time as a Trojan in the sport of track and field. Now at the end of the summer, O’Tey will officially enroll and become […]

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STURGIS — Keyanna O’Tey will go down as one of the most decorated student athletes in the history of Sturgis High School. She earned it, posting five state championships during her time as a Trojan in the sport of track and field.

Now at the end of the summer, O’Tey will officially enroll and become a student at the University of Michigan. There, she will run for the Maize and Blue as she fulfills one of her dreams as being a Division I athlete.

And she leaves SHS having helped lead the Trojans to the team’s first track and field title. It came earlier this year at Hamilton High School, a dominant performance by the orange and black from the beginning of the day.

“Extremely happy with the outcome,” O’Tey said after it was all said and done. “I definitely think we deserve this. With all the practices and training and hard work we put in all year, I’m happy to be a part of this team.”

O’Tey ran to five state titles during her time at Sturgis. She won the 100 and 200 dashes her sophomore year, plus the 100 dash last year as a junior as well. This year’s finals saw her run to Top Three spots in both events, where she set new school records at the state finals in Hamilton — running a time of 11.64 in the 100 and 24.26 in the 200.

But when it came to talking following the finals, O’Tey was quick to give thanks to her teammates and the entire SHS track and field family.

“So proud of everyone here. From the parents bringing food to my teammates giving it all, just extremely grateful for everything,” she said. “After all this, hearing them call our names today, I certainly prefer winning as a team. I think it’s more special that way, more exciting. This whole team, it’s so awesome to be a part of this.”

O’Tey helped Sturgis win state titles in the 400 relay with Tenley Banaszak, Angela Cary and Hannah Garbine, plus the 800 relay with Garbine, Sydney Bir and Addison Eicher.

And, earlier in the year, she was named the MVP at the Wolverine Conference Championships held in Three Rivers. O’Tey also earned her second consecutive Baker Award win as the most outstanding female athlete at the St. Joseph County track and field meet.

“I’m happy for her. I feel like she’s really found a place where she can call home for the next four years,” Sturgis coach Lesley Starkey said of O’Tey. “Seeing her first place, I knew she had potential. But seeing all the work she has put in over the last four years has been great as well. I think she is capable of doing big things in the Big Ten.”

In the classroom, O’Tey said she has plans to study psychology while in Ann Arbor. She wants to someday work with children in that realm and offer both guidance and the ability to listen, if needed.

“It’s nice, but I’m kinda scared for the future to be honest. I want to work with kids,” she said.

She also has a hidden talent as she loves to play the violin. First chair as well in the orchestra.

“A lot of people don’t know that. Rasean (older brother) played an instrument, so little me trying to always be like Rasean had to play an instrument as well,” O’Tey said.

This past year, the Wolverine track and field team finished tied for 10th in the Big Ten at the indoor championships and was ninth at the outdoor championships. They qualified for the post season in both sports.

Collegiate sports have changed in recent years, with NIL, roster limits and scholarships. Both Starkey coaches (J.B. included) have had quite a bit to learn throughout the process of recruitment, but now that O’Tey is sealed up with Michigan, they feel pretty up to speed.

Starkey, who ran both cross country and distance for the Michigan track teams during her time in Ann Arbor, said O’Tey should fit in just fine with the program.

“Her times and performances have spoken for themselves. She can compete at that level, no doubt,” Starkey said. “I think she will continue to get even better when she gets there, being around athletes of equal talent should help her excel in a true training environment.”

O’Tey also earned co-Outstanding Athlete of the Year honors for Sturgis at the 102nd annual Exchange Club All-Sports Banquet with Madison Webb, the male selected was Gavyn Moore. The athletes are chosen based on their athletic careers at Sturgis and each needed to have earned at least five varsity letters during their time at SHS.

Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.



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Mountain West Announces The 2025 Women’s Volleyball Revised Conference Schedule – Mountain West Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the addition of Grand Canyon University to the league, the Mountain West announced a revised Conference schedule to include the GCU Lopes for the 2025-26 season. Conference action is set to begin on Sept. 25 and will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 22. The revised slate still includes an 18-match format with […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the addition of Grand Canyon University to the league, the Mountain West announced a revised Conference schedule to include the GCU Lopes for the 2025-26 season. Conference action is set to begin on Sept. 25 and will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The revised slate still includes an 18-match format with each team playing nine home contests and nine road games. To keep up with MW Women’s Volleyball be sure to visit the  Mountain West Network or download the Mountain West App.. The MW App is available on Apple, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. Be sure to download and watch Mountain West women’s volleyball games throughout the season.

Conference action will determine the seeding for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Volleyball Championship, which is set to start on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and will conclude Saturday, Nov. 29. The Conference tournament will be held at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas and the champion will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament in December.





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Jackson, Murray, Reilly Named to AVCA Watch List – University of Nebraska

Nebraska volleyball student-athletes Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List on Wednesday. The three Husker juniors are among 30 players who are part of the Player of the Year Watch List.  The Player of the Year Watch List was compiled by the AVCA Division […]

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Nebraska volleyball student-athletes Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly were named to the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List on Wednesday. The three Husker juniors are among 30 players who are part of the Player of the Year Watch List. 

The Player of the Year Watch List was compiled by the AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Awards Committee. They will also be the group working on the additional phases of the Player of the Year process. Midseason additions to the list will come in October, and the semifinalists will be named in November. Finalists will be announced on Dec. 15, and the Player of the Year Award will be presented in Kansas City at the AVCA Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 19. 

Jackson, a junior middle blocker, had a breakout year in 2024, earning AVCA All-America First Team and unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Jackson averaged 2.62 kills per set with a .439 hitting percentage, which ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in school history. She also put up 1.18 blocks per set. 

Murray, a junior outside hitter, was an AVCA Second Team All-American last year after earning third-team honors as a freshman. Murray led the Huskers in 2024 with 3.40 kills per set and a team-high 39 service aces. She is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection. Murray was selected to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team last season and was the NCAA Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player. 

Reilly, a junior setter, is the first player in Big Ten history to win Big Ten Setter of the Year as both a freshman and sophomore, and she is coming off her second straight AVCA All-America Second Team honor. Reilly averaged 11.08 assists per set in 2024 while leading the Huskers to a .284 hitting percentage, their best since 2016.  

AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
(10 more student-athletes to be announced on July 24)

First Name Last Name School Pos. Year
Cheridyn Leverette UCLA OH Sr.
Maggie Li UCLA OH Jr.
Ava Martin Creighton University OH Sr.
Alexis Shelton University of Oklahoma OH Sr.
Kennedy Martin Penn State University RS Jr.
Izzy Starck Penn State University S So.
Olivia Babcock University of Pittsburgh RS Jr.
Bre Kelley University of Pittsburgh MB RS-Sr.
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla Texas A&M University MB Sr.
Logan Lednicky Texas A&M University RS Sr.
Brooklyn DeLeye University of Kentucky OH Jr.
Eva Hudson University of Kentucky OH Sr.
Nia Washington Louisiana State University OH Sr.
Flormarie Heredia Colon University of Miami (FL) OH Sr.
Andi Jackson University of Nebraska MB Jr.
Harper Murray University of Nebraska OH Jr.
Bergen Reilly University of Nebraska S Jr.
Elia Rubin Stanford University OH Sr.
Caroline Kerr University of Tennessee S RS-Jr.
Kamryn Gibadlo University of Utah OH Jr.

 



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