Sports

University of New Hampshire

Published

8 months ago

May 8, 2025

DURHAM, N.H. – Grad student Jasmine Lyons (Ottawa, Ontario) of the skiing team and senior Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) of the men’s hockey team were named recipients of the 2025 Jim Urquhart Outstanding Student-Athlete Award at the University of New Hampshire athletic department’s seventh annual Senior Showcase, a Night at the WESPYs, on Tuesday night (May 6).

The event, hosted by UNH sportscaster Justin McIsaac, was held at the Granite State Room of the Memorial Union Building to celebrate UNH’s outstanding athletic achievements of the 2024-25 season and honor student-athletes of the senior class.

JIM URQUHART OUTSTANDING STUDENT-ATHLETE AWARD
This award, which has been the most prestigious student-athlete award at UNH since its inception in 1999, is given to both the most outstanding female and male senior student-athlete based on athletic success, community involvement and academic achievement through their Wildcat careers.

It is named in memory of longtime UNH coach Jim Urquhart, who coached the New Hampshire men’s lacrosse team for 17 years and wrestling team for 11 seasons before taking the position of Associate Director of Event Management in 1997.

Jasmine Lyons, who was also a finalist for the Director of Athletics Leadership Award, was a phenomenal athlete, student and leader her entire time as a UNH Wildcat. She was a four-time All-American and that included a second place finish in the 5k freestyle at the 2023 NCAA Championships.

Lyons, the 2021 EISA Rookie of the Year, earned All-East First Team three times and All-East Second Team once. She was also named the UNH women’s Nordic MVP twice.

The two-time captain recorded a total of 16 podium finishes in the EISA carnival season with a breakdown of five first place finishes, six second place and five third place. She also had a pair of podium finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Lyons was honored as UNH’s Performer of the Year at the WESPYs in back-to-back years (2022 and 2023).

Lyons made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2021 by winning the 7k freestyle race in her collegiate debut at the EISA Nordic Carnival at Jackson XC. One week later, Lyons won both the 15k free and 5k classic. She finished in the top three in all seven EISA races that season to finish the season ranked No. 1 overall in the East with a breakdown of No. 1 in the freestyle and No. 2 in the classical.

Lyons capped a highly successful 2022 sophomore campaign with an All-America First Team effort (third place) in the 15k free and All-America Second Team (eighth place) in the 5k classic at the NCAA Championships. She entered the NCAAs ranked No. 4 in the East – second in the free and eighth in classical – following five top-10 finishes, including a win in the 10k classic at the Dartmouth Carnival, in the EISA season.

As a junior in 2023, Lyons duplicated her All-America honors with First Team (second place) in the 5k free and Second Team (sixth place) in the 20k classic. She posted four top-10 finishes, including a win in the 7.5k free, in five races.

Lyons has represented Team Canada as a Junior World and U23 World athlete, and that limited her to competition in three EISA carnivals during the 2024 season.

As a grad student this season, Lyons capped the EISA season with second place in 20k free and ninth place in the 7.5k classic at the EISA Championships and she went on to compete at the NCAA Championships for the fourth time.

Lyons has a 3.79 GPA in pursuit of a degree in biomedical sciences. Lyons was named to the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team every year and also garnered College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team recognition twice.

Her community service included cleaning the grounds at Dover elementary schools.

Lyons is the third women’s skier to win this exalted award.

2025 Urquhart winners_Jasmine Lyons_Alex Gagne_D62_1739

Alex Gagne, who was also a finalist for the Cathy Coakley Student-Athlete Community Involvement Award, exemplifies what it means to be a true student-athlete, a leader, and a role model both on and off the ice by virtue of exceptional leadership, athletic achievements, dedication to community service, and academic success.

Gagne is the sixth two-time captain in program history, was a nominee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award and was a two-time Hockey East Third Team All-Star (2024 and 2025).

This past season, Gagne led the team in blocks for the third consecutive year and he ranked fourth in Hockey East. He led UNH defensemen in goals (four), assists (13) and points (17) by recording personal single-season highs in both goals and points. In other metrics, Gagne ranked first in the nation in defensive-zone puck battle wins, second in D-zone stick checks, third in D-zone denials, and seventh in D-zone blocked passes.

Gagne also led the Wildcats in blocks as a junior, when he was named a New England All-Star, runner-up for the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman, and received the team’s Roger A. LeClerc MVP Award, Rod Langway Best Defenseman Award and Whoop Snively Citizenship Award. As a sophomore, Gagne earned the Whoop Snively Citizenship Award and Nate Hardy Iron Man Award.

Gagne’s impact extended beyond his athletic prowess – his ability to build meaningful relationships with teammates, coaches, and staff are hallmarks of his leadership. He is regarded as a leader who not only performs at the highest level but also brings out the best in others.

Gagne’s leadership reached far beyond the rink, as he is a steadfast advocate for community service and philanthropy. His contributions to both the UNH campus and the surrounding Durham community are a testament to his character and selflessness. His leadership has been so impactful that the UNH Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) created the new position of Community Liaison for him. In this role, Gagne spearheaded numerous community outreach initiatives and demonstrated a profound commitment to public service.

His dedication to community causes is evident in the various charitable endeavors he has led. In November 2024, Gagne organized a Movember campaign that raised $10,880 for prostate cancer research at Mass General Brigham. Under his leadership, the entire team participated in the campaign, which culminated in a public head-shaving event at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex. This was the first time in recent history that the men’s hockey team raised money for charity.

Gagne has a 3.57 GPA while pursuing a degree in sport management and leadership, and he has been named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team every year. His other academic awards include College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

Gagne is the eighth men’s hockey player to win this prestigious honor and the first in 15 years.

CATHY COAKLEY STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
This award recognizes a senior student-athlete who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the University, UNH athletic department and the larger community with involvement in campus organizations, volunteer work, University or other athletic department committees, and other service-oriented activities.

It is named in memory of Cathy Coakley, a former student-athlete (Class of ’72) and coach at UNH who served as coordinator of student-athlete development. She was a lifelong battler for and supporter of Wildcat student-athletes.

The 2025 recipient is Sally Rainey (West Lebanon, N.H.) of the UNH women’s soccer team. Rainey made a big, positive impact beyond the women’s soccer program and UNH athletics to the local community during her time in Durham.

As the president of SAAC, she led many important initiatives that included Bench Out The Stigma, Hoops4Hunger and Food Frenzy. She also attended Stratham Elementary School Reading Days and Soccer Days.

Cathy Coakley award 2025_Evan Gray_Sally Rainey_D62_1580

TINA TRUE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING AWARD
The Tina True Award started in 2007 and is presented to a pair of Wildcat seniors for commitment to strength and conditioning. The award is named in memory of Tina True, who was a co-captain and coxswain of the women’s crew team from 2000-02; her commitment to training and her passion for her sport greatly contributed to the success of the team; in January 2002 (her junior year), Tina’s life was tragically cut short in a car accident.

The 2025 recipients are Kelly Kaufmann (Raleigh, N.C.) of the volleyball team and football’s Neil Politano (Jacksonville, Fla.).

Kaufmann, who was also a finalist for the Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award, showed tremendous dedication to the weight room that was evident by continuing to work out four days a week despite her Wildcat career coming to an end last fall. She is respectful, compassionate and the true definition of a leader.

Kaufmann, the squat record holder of 330 pounds, demonstrated leadership with her energy at a six a.m. lift sessions and texts during summer workouts.

Politano, who also received the Granite Strong Award, bought into the program from the day he committed to be a UNH Wildcat. He followed workout plans to a T throughout his career. His work ethic and leadership in the weight room and overall dedication to strength and conditioning is truly inspiring.

Tina True Award 2025_Kelly Kaufmann_Neil Politano_D62_1601

WILDCAT AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Wildcat Award for Academic Excellence was first presented in 2010 and is given to the female and male senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average.

The 2025 recipients are Megumi Komoto (Schaumburg, Ill.) of the swimming and diving team, Ana O’Neil (St. Paul, Minn.) of both the swimming and diving and outdoor track & field teams, and Erik Lauta (Aptos, Calif.) of the men’s soccer team.

Academic Excillence_Megumi Komoto_Ana O'Neil_D62_1705

Komoto won the America East women’s swimming and diving Elite 18 Award in 2024 and was outstanding in the classroom with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

O’Neil won the America East women’s swimming and diving Elite 18 Award in 2025 with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Lauta earned 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors and also has a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Academic Award_Erik Lauta w Allison Rich_D62_1707

GRANITE STRONG AWARD
The Granite Strong Award, which started in 2019 as the Coaches Award, is presented to a senior student-athlete who has either overcome adversity, or is an unsung hero, or is a team leader, or has gone above and beyond.

The 2025 recipients are Megan Logue (Oak Hills, Calif.) of women’s soccer and football’s Politano.

Logue, through experience in her life, has become a mental health advocate with a message that you are not alone, it’s okay to reach out and seek help, you matter, and you are loved. In May 2024, she ran a marathon to raise awareness about mental health.

UNH women’s soccer head coach Steve Welham describes her as an unsung hero, absolute warrior and a truly fierce competitor.

Politano defined what it means to be a UNH football player. He set the tone every day with his work ethic and demeanor. He played through numerous injuries – including a broken finger and broken hand – to suit up every day at practice and every game. And he is a soft-spoken person who led by example and commanded everyone’s attention when he did speak up.

UNH football head coach Rick Santos describes Politano as tough and physical, and a player with great intensity.

Granite Strong Award_Megan Logue_Neil Politano_D62_1628

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Director of Athletics Leadership Award was introduced in 2024 and will be given annually to men’s and women’s senior or graduate student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to serving others.

The 2025 recipients are Hannah Serbousek (Fort Collins, Colo.) of volleyball and Kevin Finn (Kennebunk, Maine) of the men’s cross country and track & field teams.

Serbousek was a three-time captain of the volleyball team who consistently embodied the true spirit of being a UNH Wildcat. She led by example with a team-first mentality characterized by empathy, understanding, kindness and accountability. Serbousek’s dedication to teammates was unwavering and evident through her advocacy for them behind closed doors.

Serbousek is the epitome of servant leadership – putting other’s needs ahead of her own. And by integrating three freshman classes into the team, she was the cornerstone of the outstanding volleyball team culture that helped the Wildcats win an America East conference tournament championship this past fall.

Finn, captain of both cross country and track & field, demonstrated outstanding leadership both on and off the track. He is a great asset because he is one of the top student-athletes and also demonstrates outstanding leadership through words and action. Track and field is often seen as an individual sport, but the relays do require four athletes to work together cohesively to get the baton around the track as fast as possible. Season after season, Finn was instrumental to rallying his relay teams to warm up, practice and execute the proper. As a result, he has been on multiple championship winning relay teams.

Finn can lead a practice with younger members on the team. If there is a part of practice that is new to any first year team member, he effectively teaches that skill or activity to them. This show of leadership is why the younger athletes on the team look up to him.

His leadership also extended beyond the team into the community. UNH’s track and field program holds a kids track and field clinic every Monday night throughout the school year and Finn was one of the class instructors the past four semesters.

Leadership Award_Hannah Serbousek_Kevin Finn_D62_1686

PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
The Performer of the Year, first presented in 2020, is given to both the most outstanding female and male student-athlete – regardless of class standing – for athletic achievement.

The 2025 recipients are junior Tasmin Cookman (London, England) of field hockey and senior Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) of football.

Cookman was named to the 2024 NFHCA All-America Third Team to mark the third consecutive year she garnered All-America honors. The captain was also voted both the America East Offensive Player of the Year and to the All-ECAC First Team for the second consecutive Year. Cookman was named to both the NFHCA All-Northeast Region First Team honoree and America East All-Conference First Team for the third time in as many years.

Cookman, who started all 20 games, ranked No. 21 in the nation in goals per game (0.65) and 25^th in points per game (1.60). Those numbers were fourth in America East in both goals per game and points per game. She ranked second on the team in goals (13), assists (six) and points (32).

In conference-only games, Cookman finished atop the America East leaderboard in both goals per game (1.00) and points per game (2.17).

Cookman scored a goal in 10 of 20 games with a point in 13 games. She scored two goals in a game three times, including against conference foes Bryant and Vermont. Cookman had a season-high five-game goal streak spanning Sept. 27 to Oct. 11 with seven goals in that span.

This is the third career WESPY for Cookman, a forward who is a repeat Performer of the Year honoree and Rookie of the Year recipient in 2023.

Silver received five All-America Team accolades in 2024 and nine career. He was named to the Walter Camp All-America Team and was a First Team selection by the AFCA, Associated Press and Stats Perform. The defensive end was also named Defensive Player of the Year by both CAA Football and the ECAC, as well as All-CAA First Team and All-ECAC Team.

On the national level, Silver was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player in FCS) and semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end across all college divisions).

Silver ended the regular season ranked No. 3 in the nation in sacks per game (0.96) and 11th in tackles for loss (1.50); both those numbers ranked second in the CAA.
He was UNH’s leader in both sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss (17.5), as well as quarterback hurries (four), and he ranked third in both solo tackles (32) and total tackles (58). Silver also had a forced fumble to his credit.

The captain was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 14 in recognition of tying his career highs in both sacks (4.0) and tackles for loss (5.0) in UNH’s 17-10 win at Elon.

For the season, he recorded a tackle for loss in 8 of 12 games and a sack in 6 of 12.

Silver won the WESPY Rookie of the Year award in ’22.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The Rookie of the Year, first presented in 2019, is given to both the most outstanding female and male rookie for athletic achievement.

The 2025 recipients are swimmer Lydia Hart (Cornwall, Ontario) and alpine skier Jayden Buckrell (Collingwood, Ontario).

Hart had a stellar rookie year as she was named both the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet and Rookie of the Meet at the 2025 America East Championships, where she won three individual gold medals and two relay golds. She was the first woman to sweep those awards since 2014.

Hart displayed her dominance in the freestyle by winning the 200 free, 500 free and 1,650 free races at the conference meet. She was also part of both the 400 and 800 free relay winning teams to help the Wildcats win their fifth conference title in six years.

On Day 2 of the championships, Hart shattered the school, conference and pool records in the 500 free with a time of 4 minutes, 42.12 seconds. One day earlier, her opening leg of the 1:46.74 in the 800 free relay set records for UNH, America East and VMI’s venue in the 200 free. On the last day, Hart touched the wall in the 1,650 in 16:14.71 to break the UNH and conference records.

Hart went on to compete at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships and won the 500 free title by edging out swimmers from The Ohio State University and the University of Kentucky.

In the regular season, Hart swept the weekly Swimmer and Rookie awards on Nov. 26 and went on to win two more Rookie of the Week awards (Dec. 9 and Jan. 14).

Buckrell is the 2025 NCAA national champion in the men’s slalom and became the first UNH skier to win a national title in 52 years.

Rookie of the Year_Lydia Hart_Jayden Buckrell_D62_1721

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
The Highlight of the Year, which started in 2020, is determined by fan voting on social media platforms. This year’s winner is when freshman alpine skier Jayden Buckrell, who completed Run 2 of the slalom in 45.64 seconds for an aggregate time of 1:27.17 to win the NCAA title.

Highlight of the Year_Jayden Buckrell w Justin McIsaac_D62_1609

EVENT OF THE YEAR
The Event of the Year, first presented in 2021, is also determined by fan voting on social media platforms. This year’s winner is the volleyball team defeating UAlbany, 3-1, in the America East championship game to win the eighth conference tourney title – and advance to the NCAA tourney for the eighth time – in program history. After dropping the first set, the Wildcats won the next two sets by an identical 25-22 score. In Set 4, the ‘Cats rallied from a 16-8 deficit to win the set, match and championship, 25-23.

RECAP

Event of the Year 2025_volleyball_D62_1604

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Sports

No. 11 CSUN Opens 2026 Season With Three Matches at UCSB Asics Invitational

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

CSUN THIS WEEK:

UCSB ASICS INVITATIONAL

MATCH #1

CSUN Matadors (0-0) vs. Maryville Saints (0-0)

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 – 7:00 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif.

ESPN+

Live Stats

MATCH #2

CSUN Matadors vs. Harvard Crimson

Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 – 2:00 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif

ESPN+

Live Stats

MATCH #3

CSUN Matadors vs. Kentucky State Thorobreds

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 – 4:30 p.m. PT

Rob Gym – Santa Barbara, Calif

ESPN+

Live Stats

In-game X updates: @CSUNMensVB

CSUN Men’s Volleyball Media Notes

FOR STARTERS

The preseason 11th-ranked CSUN Men’s Volleyball team (0-0, 0-0 Big West) opens the 2026 season, its 50th season of men’s volleyball, against Maryville on Thursday at the UCSB Asics Invitational in Santa Barbara. The match is the first of three for the Matadors at the annual tournament held at Rob Gym on the UCSB campus. CSUN opens the tournament Thursday against Maryville at 7 p.m., before taking on Harvard on Friday at 2 p.m. The Matadors conclude the three-day event on Saturday, taking on Kentucky State at 4:30 p.m. Fellow Big West teams UC Irvine and host UC Santa Barbara round out the six-team field this weekend.

FOLLOW YOUR MATADORS ONLINE

All nine matches of UCSB’s Asics Invitational will stream live on ESPN+ and will have live stats available (links at GoMatadors.com). CSUN home matches this season will also stream live on the ESPN+ platform, with Darren Preston handling a majority of the play-by-play this season.

Fans can also follow CSUN Matador men’s volleyball online at the official home of CSUN athletics, www. GoMatadors.com for related links to the match, including any live stats, audio, and video. Fans are also encouraged to check the CSUN Athletics Department’s official X feed (@ GoMatadors) and the volleyball-specific feed (@CSUNMensVB) for news and notes throughout the week, as well as updates of matches in progress.

CSUN RANKED 11TH IN 2026 AVCA PRESEASON MEN’S VOLLEYBALL POLL

After finishing the 2025 season ranked ninth in the final AVCA National Collegiate Poll, CSUN opens the 2026 season ranked 11th in the national preseason poll (Dec. 23). The Matadors, who finished 18-11 in 2025, finished in the top 10 in the final poll for the first time since 2018 and the second time in the last seven seasons. After being ranked in all 18 polls last season, CSUN received 238 points in the preseason poll to rank ninth.

Since reclaiming a spot in the AVCA national poll in 2023, the Matadors have been ranked in the top 20 in 36 consecutive polls and 46 of the last 49 AVCA national polls since the 2023 season. CSUN has been a fixture in the national polls historically, having previously been ranked in the AVCA Top-15 for 62 consecutive weeks and 262 of the last 289 weekly polls dating back to the 2002 season.

UCLA opens the 2026 season ranked first in the preseason poll, collecting 12 of 24 first-place votes and 481 total points. Hawai’i is second after receiving seven first-place votes and 473 points, followed by defending national champions Long Beach State, which received five first-place votes and 460 points. The remainder of the preseason top five includes Pepperdine and USC with UC Irvine, Loyola Chicago, BYU, Stanford, and UC San Diego rounding out the preseason top 10. The second half of the preseason top-20 poll includes the Matadors, Lewis, Penn State, Ohio State, McKendree, Ball State, UC Santa Barbara, Princeton, George Mason, and Lincoln Memorial.

SCOUTING THE ASICS INVITATIONAL FIELD

Maryville (0-0) opens its fifth season of men’s volleyball on Thursday in Santa Barbara. The Saints were picked to finish second in their inaugural season as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Maryville earned four first-place votes and 43 total points to finish second to Rockhurst in the polling. Junior OH Makai Scott returns after leading the Saints with 307 kills (3.37 kps) and 211 digs last season. After finishing 19-9 in 2025, the Saints return 13 players while adding six newcomers in 2026. All-time series: Thursday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Matadors and Saints in men’s volleyball.

Harvard (0-0) opens the 2026 season on Thursday against UC Irvine. The Crimson, who finished 9-15 in 2025, were picked to tie for fifth in the EIVA Coaches’ Preseason Poll. Seniors Zach Berty and Brian Thomas were named as Players to Watch by the conference’s seven head coaches. Berty averaged 2.22 kills per set in 2025, while Thomas averaged 0.94 blocks per set to lead the team. All-time series: Friday’s match is the seventh meeting all-time between CSUN and Harvard, with the Matadors holding a 5-1 edge in the series. The two teams also met at the UCSB Invitational in 2019, with CSUN pulling out a five-set win.

Kentucky State (0-0) also opens its 2026 season in Santa Barbara. The Thorobreds, who were picked to finish sixth in the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) Preseason Poll, will open against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, before taking on UC Irvine and the Matadors to conclude the weekend. All-time series: Saturday’s match marks the first-ever meeting between the Matadors and Thorobreds in men’s volleyball.

CSUN AT THE UCSB ASICS INVITATIONAL

Thursday’s match against Maryville marks CSUN’s 25th appearance in UC Santa Barbara’s annual tournament in the last 29 years. The Matadors are 56-37 (.602) all-time in the tournament dating back to 2001. Last season, the Matadors finished 3-0 in the tournament with wins over Tusculum (3-0), Missouri S&T (3-0), and Menlo (3-1).

Since 2019, the Matadors are 8-7 in UCSB’s annual event, finishing 1-2 three times (2019, 2023, 2024) and 2-1 in 2019. After the 2021 tournament was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, CSUN was scheduled to open the 2022 season in Santa Barbara but due to COVID protocols within the program, the Matadors were forced to withdraw, snapping a streak of 16 consecutive appearances. In 2019, CSUN dropped a five-set decision to Grand Canyon, which snapped a streak of 11 straight Matador wins in the tournament dating back to a loss to Princeton in 2015. CSUN won its first-ever UCSB Invitational championship in 2009 after upsetting No. 2 UCLA (3-1) and defeating No. 14 UCSB (3-1) and No. 8 Stanford (3-1). The Matadors then won their second straight crown in 2010, topping UCSB (3-1), California Baptist (3-1), and BYU (3-1).

THREE MATADORS NAMED AVCA ALL-AMERICAN, ALL-BIG WEST IN 2025

For the first time since 2018, CSUN had three student-athletes named to the All-Big West First Team in 2025. The Matadors had three first-team selections as senior Donovan Constable, redshirt sophomore Jalen Phillips, and freshman Stilian Delibosov were all named to the top team. The last time CSUN had three players named first team was 2018, when Eric Chance, Arvis Greene, Jr., and Dimitar Kalchev earned top honors. All three players went on to earn AVCA All-America honors as Phillips was named to the First Team and Constable and Delibosov earned honorable mention accolades.

NEW FACES IN 2026

In addition to returning 10 letterwinners and five starters from the 2025 season, CSUN welcomes an impressive list of newcomers in 2026. The group includes a trio of 2025 redshirts, including sophomore Owen Douphner, who steps in for departed All-American Donovan Constable at setter. Transfer Jordan Lucas (Grand Canyon) and redshirt freshman Grayson Albers (Sacramento) each open their first season on the active roster in 2026. CSUN also welcomes a trio of true freshmen in 2026 that includes Kingston Jerome, Joel Eanes, and Noah Douphner. Jerome comes to CSUN from Shadow Ridge High School in Las Vegas, Nev., while Eanes is a 6-9 opposite from Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, Va. Douphner is a local product from nearby Stevenson Ranch and the younger brother of the CSUN setter.

MATADORS IN THE BIG WEST

The 2026 season marks CSUN’s ninth as a member of the Big West in men’s volleyball. With a 3-7 regular season record in 2025, the Matadors are 18-52 (.257) in 70 Big West matches over eight seasons since the conference’s inaugural campaign in 2018. CSUN finished 5-5 in the first Big West season in 2018 before finishing 3-7 in 2019, 2024, and 2025, 2-8 in 2021 and 1-9 in both 2022 and 2023. Prior to 2018, the Matadors played 25 seasons as a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) from 1993-2017 and 16 seasons in the Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (WIVA) from 1977-92.

EDWARDS IN FOURTH SEASON AS CSUN HEAD COACH

Theo Edwards is in his fourth season as CSUN’s head coach in 2026 after leading the Matadors back into the AVCA national rankings in his first three seasons. Now in his 16th season at CSUN, Edwards was named the successor to Jeff Campbell on Dec. 9, 2022. CSUN finished 12-16 in Edwards’ first season (1-9 in the Big West) in 2023 and the Matadors have steadily improved in each of Edwards’ three seasons. CSUN finished 13-16 in 2024 and 18-11 in 2025. Under Edwards’ leadership, CSUN earned a No. 7 national ranking on Mar. 10 of the 2025 season, its highest national ranking in seven seasons. The Matadors finished the 2025 season with a No. 9 national ranking, also its best since 2018.

LOOKING AHEAD

Following three matches at the UCSB Asics Invitational, the Matadors will remain on the road for two more matches next week. CSUN will travel to the Midwest for the 2026 Under Armour Invitational at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. The Matadors will take on the host Lions on Jan. 16 before meeting Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 17 at 2:00 p.m. PT.

#GoMatadors

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Sports

Jenna Ibieta named head coach of Loyola indoor, beach volleyball programs – Crescent City Sports

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jenna Ibieta steps into her new role after earning SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors in November

NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola University New Orleans indoor and beach volleyball program has a familiar face grabbing the reins, as Jenna Ibieta was named the new head coach for the two teams, Assistant Vice President of Athletics Brett Simpson announced Wednesday. Ibieta made the move to her new role after serving as assistant coach for the indoor fall 2025 season.

She’s the eighth head coach in program history.

“We’re excited to announce Jenna Ibieta as our next Head Volleyball Coach at Loyola University New Orleans,” Simpson said. “Jenna has already made a significant impact on our program through her leadership and deep understanding of the game, earning SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors this past season. With head coaching experience at the high school level, extensive club coaching in New Orleans, and a strong background as a student-athlete at Tulane, she is well-positioned to lead our program forward and build on our recent success.

Ibieta joined the Wolf Pack in May and helped the indoor team collect 29 wins, the second-most in program wins, the program’s first SSAC Championship title, and the second NAIA national tournament appearance in three years. She was also named the SSAC Assistant Coach of the Year.

“This is home for me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead these programs,” Ibieta said. “What last season’s group accomplished set a strong foundation, and with a talented recruiting class coming in, I’m excited to continue building a culture grounded in excellence. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and honored to be part of the ongoing growth and success of the Indoor and Beach programs.”

Ibieta’s roles with the program have been leading the recruiting efforts, player development, travel logistics, and on-court training, with a focus on offensive systems. She coached five members of the SSAC All-Conference team, including SSAC Freshman and Attacker of the Year Isis Harink, all-conference first-teamers Alexa Palmer and Kala Emanuelli, along with Harink, and members of the second team: Ivana De Carvalho Peixe and Samantha Guillotte.

Before joining the Loyola staff, Ibieta spent the four years prior in Lafayette, serving as the Head Volleyball Coach at Acadiana High School (2024–2025) and Sacred Heart Grand Coteau (2021–2024), while also working as an Admissions Coordinator. She brings additional experience from the club volleyball scene, having coached with the Cajun Elite and Louisiana Volleyball programs during that four-year stretch.

A former collegiate setter at Tulane University (2017–2019), Ibieta tallied 1,497 assists and 556 digs over her career. She was named to the All-State Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic All-Tournament Team, was a member of the Tulane Athletic 3.0 Club, and earned American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors in 2018–2019. She holds a B.S. in Communications with minors in Sociology and Business.

Ibieta’s volleyball roots run deep. As a standout player at Metairie Park Country Day, she led her team to four LHSAA State Championships (2012–2014, 2016) and was named Louisiana Miss Volleyball in 2016. She holds the school record with over 5,000 career assists and was a four-time all-state selection. Her coaching journey began early, contributing to NOLA Volleyball during her high school and college years.

Volleyball excellence runs in the family, too. Her mother, Julie Stempel Ibieta, is a former LSU volleyball standout and co-director of NOLA Volleyball. Her father, Juan Ibieta, played baseball at Tulane. Her brothers, Justin and Jake, are also involved in collegiate athletics — Justin as a graduate assistant with Tulane Football and Jake as a member of the LSU football team.

A reception to introduce Coach Ibieta will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, in the University Sports Complex’s Hall of Fame Room.

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Two Scholar Athletes Highlight Academic Awards for Hornet Volleyball

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3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Women’s Volleyball | 1/7/2026 2:00:00 PM

January 7, 2026 – Emporia State volleyball had two MIAA Scholar Athletes and six players in total earn MIAA Academic recognition for the 2025 season.

Mia Frisbie and Brailee Bogle were both MIAA Scholar Athletes for their performance on the court and in the classroom, as both were named Honorable Mention All-MIAA for the 2025 season.

Along with Frisbie and Bogle, Brenna Smith, Willow Deckinger, Sydney Fiatte and Camilla Ossola were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. All six players earned their second career recognition on the Academic Honor Roll.

To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, one must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.

To qualify as a Scholar-Athlete an individual must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 at the certifying member institution. The student-athlete must have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. If competing in a championship sport of the MIAA, the student-athlete must also earn All-MIAA honors from the 2024 season.

MIAA Scholar Athletes

Mia Frisbie	Sophomore	3.98	Health & Human Perf.	Overland Park, Kan.
Braile Bogle	Junior	3.55	Biology	Wichita, Kan.

MIAA Academic Honor Roll

Mia Frisbie	Sophomore	3.98	Health & Human Perf.	Overland Park, Kan.
Brenna Smith	Sophomore	3.84	Health & Human Perf.	St. Mary’s, Kan.
Willow Deckinger	Sophomore	3.76	English	Wichita, Kan.
Sydney Fiatte	Senior	3.73	Health & Human Perf.	Shawnee, Kan.
Camilla Ossola	Senior	3.72	Biology	Gavirate, Italy
Braile Bogle	Junior	3.55	Biology	Wichita, Kan.

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No. 7 Ramblers Start Season at No. 2 Rainbow Warriors

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4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LEADING OFF
No. 7 Loyola Chicago opens its 2026 season with a two-match series at No. 2 Hawai’i on Thursday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 9. First serve for both matches is set for 11 p.m. CT.

QUICK HITS

Loyola headlines the MIVA conference in the preseason poll; Ryan McElligott, Daniel Fabikovic and Aleksander Sosa tabbed Preseason All-MIVA. The Ramblers were picked seventh in the AVCA Preseason Poll.

McElligott finished 2025 as both the MIVA and NCAA assists leader, averaging 10.9 per set.

The Ramblers returned 15 student-athletes and welcomed five new faces, including two freshmen and three transfers.

Assistant coach Dalton Solbrig lettered four years for the Rainbow Warriors from 2016-19. He was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams, including the national runner-up squad in 2019.

Head coach Shane Davis enters his 14th season at Loyola, sporting a 289-92 (.759) career record. In his first season back, Davis led the Ramblers to a 25-4 ledger, their fourth MIVA Tournament title and fourth NCAA Tournament berth.

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Loyola’s men’s volleyball program, which is home to two of the university’s three NCAA national championship titles.

SCOUTING REPORT
Hawai’i kicked off its season with a two-match series sweep of NJIT (Jan. 2, Jan. 4), in which sophomore opposite Kristian Titriyski combined for 23 kills on .438 hitting. The 6-foot-8 Bulgarian national added five service aces against NJIT. As a team, the Rainbow Warriors hit .517 in both matches. Junior setter Tread Rosenthal led each match in assists, recording 26 in the first and 30 in the rematch. He also contributed 11 total blocks across the series.

Head coach Charlie Wade entered his 17th season at the helm of the program and boasts a 321-131 career record at Hawai’i. Last season, he led the Rainbow Warriors to their fourth overall Big West Tournament title and 10th NCAA Tournament appearance.

SERIES HISTORY

The Rainbow Warriors lead the all-time series, 13-3, with the Ramblers and are 12-3 at home against the MIVA opponent. In their last meeting, Loyola left Hawai’i 1-1 after falling 3-0 in match one then taking the second in a five-set thriller. This year’s two-match series marks Davis’ 11th overall matchup against Hawai’i, and his fifth as head coach.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

Stream both matches on ESPN+. Follow men’s volleyball on Instagram and X @RamblersMVB for in-game updates.

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South Tahoe High School graduate completes first year as NCAA Division I university head volleyball coach

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Shawn McLaughlin has just completed his first year as volleyball head coach at Lehigh University

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For Shawn McLaughlin, a South Lake Tahoe native, being part of a team was something that came naturally.

Growing up in Tahoe, McLaughlin was accustomed to community involvement, watching as his father coached track and eventually varsity volleyball as the head coach at George Whittell High School.

“I used to joke that I was the youngest assistant coach in the country,” said McLaughlin. “I would just go around and help him keep stats.”

McLaughlin’s father was extremely successful as head volleyball coach, going on to win several state championships over his 18-year run at both Whittell and South Tahoe High Schools, allowing McLaughlin the opportunity to find interest in following in his footsteps.

Playing volleyball throughout his school years, McLaughlin was also part of a junior club team in the Bay Area before going on to play varsity volleyball at Lindenwood University in St. Louis.

After graduating from college, McLaughlin started volunteer coaching at a number of different schools including UC Davis, University of Nevada, Reno, University of the Incarnate Word, and more all around the country.

“My dad had a huge impact on my wanting to coach,” McLaughlin said, and pretty early on, he determined that a career in education was the direction he wanted to go in. “Volleyball is my means, in education, in growth and learning. I’ve always loved that element and I think that’s part of the reason that coaching has gone the way it’s gone.”

Among McLaughlin’s accomplishments, he brought many teams to their national tournaments through the club ranks. In addition, he won gold in 2014 at the USA Volleyball Junior National in 14’s USA. In terms of college, he’s been coaching for 15 years, winning several conference championships and attending the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament several times.

En route to becoming a Division I (D-I) coach, the opportunity presented itself in the form of his father running a club and bringing in college coaches.

“One of the coaches he brought in was Jamie Holmes, she was at UC Davis. I approached her and said ‘How do I get into this?’ and she said, ‘come be my volunteer,’” said McLaughlin. “It was a great start to my program and a great start to my career and that pushed me into the rest of it.”

McLaughlin is now in his first headcoaching opportunity at Lehigh University, a D-I school in Pennsylvania, and with his first year completed, the competitive program is allowing him to utilize the skills he’s learned over the years assisting other D-I coaches. “Now this is my opportunity to be super successful and to run my own ship.”

McLaughlin aims to focus on the development of the holistic student athlete

Despite suffering a major injury, his team was still able to overcome adversity and make it to the Patriot League Tournament, an unprecedented accomplishment for Lehigh.

“I think 2026 could be a really fun year for this team,” added McLaughlin, and with seven seniors on the team, they are striving to be victorious.

Although McLaughlin is now soaring high as head coach, he doesn’t forget his roots, and continues to return to South Lake Tahoe every Christmas.

“[South Lake Tahoe] is one of the best places in the world to grow up. It’s also a very active community,” McLaughlin said. “It’s just home. It still feels like home to me.”

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What is LOVB? 2026 pro volleyball preview, rosters and what to expect

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 7, 2026, 6:02 a.m. ET

If you’re still feeling the excitement of Texas A&M women’s volleyball’s first national title in program history, then look no further than League One Volleyball (LOVB) to serve up more elite action.

The second season of LOVB (pronounced “love”) gets underway Wednesday, Jan. 7, and opening week is filled with five marquee matchups, including a semifinal rematch Sunday between LOVB Atlanta and LOVB Austin, the defending champions.

A handful of All-American collegiate stars will make their professional debuts, including a trio that played in the NCAA title match. Texas A&M opposite hitter Logan Lednicky signed with LOVB Houston and middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla LOVB Salt Lake. Kentucky outside hitter Eva Hudson heads to LOVB Atlanta.

The players on LOVB’s six teams have a combined 21 NCAA Division I titles, 101 AVCA All-American awards and 23 Olympic medals. Here’s what you need to know ahead of season two:

College stars will add instant impact

Here’s a handful of college players that will begin their rookie season:

Rebekah Allick, Nebraska, LOVB Madison: The 6-4 middle blocker racked up a team-high 128 blocks (19 solo) and 259 kills on .450 hitting. She was named AVCA second-team All-American.
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M, LOVB Salt Lake: The 6-foot-2 middle blocker lead the nation with 199 total blocks (22 solo) and had a team-high 1.69 blocks per set. The AVCA first-team All-American was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Eva Hudson, Kentucky, LOVB Atlanta: The 6-1 outside hitter was named the SEC Player of the Year after hitting .319 with 4.59 kills per set and 546 total kills. She was a finalist for national player of the year finalist after leading Kentucky to the 2025 title game.
Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M, LOVB Houston: The 6-3 opposite hitter led the Aggies’ championship squad in points (534), kills (467) and kills per set (4.10) and hit .310. She recorded double-digit kills in 29 of 33 matches her senior season and was named a AVCA second-team All-American.
Bailey Miller, Arizona State, LOVB Austin: The 6-foot-3 outside hitter was named first-team All-Big 12 after recording 462.5 points, 392 kills, 3.29 kills per set and 39 service aces.
Maya Sands, Missouri, LOVB Houston: The 5-foot-7 Illinois native was named the SEC Libero of the Year after recording 511 digs, including a career-high 32 against South Carolina on Oct. 24. She also had 108 assists.

LOVB Austin reloads ahead of title defense

Despite finishing the regular season with a 5-11 record, LOVB Austin got hot in the postseason and cemented itself as the inaugural champion. They did so with reverse sweeps of LOVB Salt Lake in the quarterfinals and top-seeded LOVB Atlanta in the semifinals, before taking down LOVB Omaha in the title match behind dominant performances by Logan Eggleston (22 points) and Madisen Skinner (21 points). Skinner, who finished the season ranked fourth overall in points (227) and kills (201), was named the Finals MVP.

Skinner and Eggleston are among 10 players returning as LOVB Austin looks to defend its title. Skinner, Eggleston, Asjia O’Neal, Zoe Jarvis and newcomer Bella Bergmark all won an NCAA title together at Texas in 2022. Skinner, Bergmark and O’Neal successfully defended the Longhorn’s title in 2023. Skinner, who also won a NCAA title with Kentucky in 2020, has won four championships in the past five years.

LOVB Austin suffered a major offseason blow after Chiaka Ogbogu, the middle blocker of the year with a league-high 53 blocks, accepted an offer to play in Turkey. But head coach Erik Sullivan will rely on Molly McCage and O’Neal to shore up Austin’s league-leading defense. McCage had 39 blocks last year, fourth in the league. Austin has the talent to pull off a repeat, but it’s paramount they get off to a better start.

LOVB Nebraska looks to continue momentum

LOVB Austin wasn’t the only team to undergo a dramatic postseason turnaround. LOVB Nebraska (formerly LOVB Omaha) finished at the bottom of the standings with a 5-11 record, but went on a Cinderella run in the playoffs. LOVB Nebraska took out LOVB Madison in the quarterfinals and reverse swept LOVB Houston in the semifinals. LOVB Nebraska was subsequently swept in the finals by LOVB Austin, but its deep playoff run highlighted the team’s potential.

LOVB Nebraska will be led by team co-owner Jordan Larson, who finished top 5 in the league in aces (14). She’s not the only Nebraska alum. Libero Lexi Rodriguez is returning and will look to take on a more prominent role after two-time U.S. Olympic medalist libero Justine Wong-Orantes left to move closer to home.

LOVB Nebraska also signed renowned Brazilian middle blocker Ana Carolina da Silva. The 34-year-old led the Brazilian national team to two Olympic medals — silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics — in addition to two world championships. LOVB Nebraska was the only team shut out of the end of season awards last season, but that’s likely to change if the team can recapture its postseason magic.

LOVB Atlanta seeks redemption

LOVB Atlanta is stacked. The team is made up of three-time Olympic medalist Kelsey Cook, the league’s inaugural MVP, in addition to McKenzie Adams (outside hitter of the year) and Tia Jimerson (who ranked second in blocks with 52). The team dominated the regular season with a 13-3 record, but was upset in the semifinals by LOVB Austin. “There was just a lot left out on the court,” Cook said after the shocking loss.

Another season brings a chance at redemption, although LOVB Atlanta will be without their superstar outside hitter. Cook announced her pregnancy in October out for the 2026 season. Adams is capable of carrying the load, ranked top five among outside hitters in the league last season in points (193), kills (163), digs (146), blocks (20) and aces (10). LOVB Atlanta also added Kentucky grad Eva Hudson, who should fit seamlessly into the lineup after being named the SEC player of the year and a national player of the year finalist.

LOVB is expanding (teams + moms)

LOVB is expanding from six teams to nine next season in 2027, with the addition of LOVB Los Angeles, LOVB Minnesota and LOVB San Francisco, but that’s not the only way to the league is growing. Three-time Olympic medalist Kelsey Cook is one of several LOVB players preparing for motherhood.

Cook (LOVB Atlanta) announced her pregnancy in October and her U.S. national teammate Justine Wong-Orantes (LOVB Houston) is expecting a baby boy in March. In fact, Cook and Wong-Orantes revealed they are due two weeks apart.

LOVB Madison middle blocker Anna Hall is returning to LOVB after giving birth to son Louie last September. Hall revealed she was pregnant with her son during LOVB’s inaugural season.

2026 LOVB team rosters

Here’s a look at each team’s roster, by position:

LOVB Atlanta roster

Head coach: Paulo Coco

Liberos: Beatrice Negretti, Piyanut Pannoy
Middle Blockers: Magdalena Jehlarova, Tia Jimerson, Onye Ofoegbu, Jess Robinson
Outside Hitters: McKenzie Adams, Kelsey Cook, Miroslava Paskova, Julia Sangiacomo, Eva Hudson
Opposite Hitters: Carly Dehoog, Tessa Grubbs, Ivonee Montano
Setters: Rachel Fairbanks, Ella May Powell

LOVB Austin roster

Head coach: Erik Sullivan

Liberos: Kotoe Inoue, Zoe Jarvis
Setters: Carli Lloyd, Brie O’Reilly
Outside Hitters: Madi Banks, Logan Eggleston, Leah Hardeman
Opposite Hitters: Khat Bell, Juliann Faucette, Madisen Skinner, Bailey Miller
Middle Blockers: Bella Bergmark, Magdalena Jurczyk, Molly McCage, Asjia O’Neal

LOVB Houston roster

Head coach: Sanja Tomašević

Liberos: Lauren Briseño, Justine Wong-Orantes, Maya Sands
Middle Blockers: Anita Anwusi, Raphaela Folie, Amber Igiede, Jazmine White,
Outside Hitters: Julia Brown, Madi Kingdon Rishel, Sara Loda, Jess Mruzik, Karin Palgutova
Opposite Hitters: Grace Frohling, Jordan Thompson, Logan Lednicky
Setters: Kaisa Alanko, Micha Hancock

LOVB Madison roster

Head coach: Matt Fuerbringer

Liberos: Milica Medved, Anna Pogany
Middle Blockers: Ana Beatriz Correa, Anna Hall, Annayka Legros, Callie Schwarzenbach, Rebekah Allick
Outside Hitters: Claire Chaussee, Anna Haak, Mariena Hayden, Andrea Mitrovic, Indrė Sorokaitė
Opposite Hitters: Xiangyu Gong, Temi Thomas-Ailara
Setters: Lauren Carlini, Argentina Ung

LOVB Nebraska roster

Head coach: Suzie Fritz

Liberos: Annie Cesar, Lexi Rodriguez
Middle Blockers: Ana Carolina da Silva, Candelaria Herrera, Emily Thater, Iga Wasilewska
Outside Hitters: Anne Buijs, Alexis Hart, Jordan Larson, Vicky Savard, Jaali Winters, Julia Hanson
Opposite Hitters: Kimberly Drewniok, Audriana Fitzmorris
Setters: Gabby Blossom, Laura Dijkema

LOVB Salt Lake roster

Head coach: Tama Miyashiro

Liberos: Manami Kojima, Mary Lake
Middle Blockers: Tori Dixon, Sophie Fischer, Serena Gray, Haleigh Washington, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla
Outside Hitters: Dani Drews, Alexa Gray, Maddie Haynes, Claire Hoffman, Roni Jones-Perry
Opposite Hitters: Heidy Casanova, Skylar Fields
Setters: Madi Bugg, Jordyn Poulter

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