KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Mid-American Conference announced the 2025 Cross Country Academic All-MAC Team on Thursday morning, celebrating the achievements of 117 student-athletes who have excelled both in competition and in the classroom. The Broncos were headlined by six honorees on this year’s list. 

The Academic All-MAC distinction honors student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding dedication to both their academic and athletic pursuits. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 and participate in at least 50% of their team’s competitions during the season.

Ava Kurczewski (3.93, Exercise Science), Lara Machado Pereira (3.76, Biomedical Sciences), Larissa McGrath (3.97, Biomedical Sciences), Lily Overton (3.70, Exercise Science), Lauren Sancrant (3.68, Strategic Communications: Public Relations) and Madison Zarembski (3.98, Elementary Education) were the representatives this season. 

 

#19 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL vs. Catawba College
WHEN: Saturday, January 10 (5 p.m.)
WHERE: The RAC | Fairfax, Va.
2025 RECORDS: #19 George Mason (16-13, 6-6 EIVA); Catawba College (13-12, 1-2 IVA)
ALL-TIME SERIES: First-ever meeting
LIVE STATS: Click Here
WATCH (ESPN+): Click Here

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FAIRFAX, Va. – The No. 19 George Mason Men’s Volleyball team will begin their 2026 campaign this Saturday, January 10, when they host Catawba College at the Recreation Athletic Complex (RAC) at 5 p.m. in Fairfax. This will be the Patriots’ first-ever meeting with the Indians and the first time since 2023 the Patriots will start the season with a home opener.

Head coach Jay Hosack, who is entering his 11^th season at the helm and recently signed a three-year contract extension with George Mason, said he is looking forward to get the new season underway.

“We are excited to get the 2026 season underway!” said Coach Hosack. “Our guys have worked hard in the preseason, and we are stoked to start the march towards an EIVA title run!”

George Mason ended their 2025 season with a 16-13 overall record and a EIVA Conference record of 6-6. After sweeping Charleston (WV) in the first round of the EIVA tournament, the Patriots’ season came to a close when they lost 3-1 to top-seeded Princeton in the semifinals.

In the offseason, Coach Hosack signed Patriot alum Sam Greenslade (’20) as an assistant coach and added freshmen Brady Ruth of Orlando, Fla., and Alex Venes of Plainfield, Ill.

George Mason is also highly ranked in both conference and national preseason polls. The Patriots are ranked No. 19 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Collegiate MVB Preseason Poll, and they are ranked third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Preseason Coaches Poll.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Liam French and sophomore middle blocker Alexander Lillie were also selected to the 2026 EIVA Players to Watch list. Last season, French played 72 sets from 24 matches and scored 233 points with 191 kills. The Virginia Beach, Va., native also had 29 service aces, the second-most on the team, as well as a .242 hitting percentage, 57 digs and 22 blocks. French recorded a season-high of four service aces against Charleston (WV) on April 23^rd.

Lillie’s freshman campaign was a decorated one, as he was named a three-time EIVA Defensive Player of the Week and was also selected to the EIVA First-Team.  The Ronkonkoma, N.Y., product appeared in 82 sets across 24 matches and recorded 30 solo blocks, which was the second-most in the country. In total, his 94 blocks with 1.132 blocks per set was good for ninth-best in the country as well.

The team this season comprise of the following:

SENIORS (4)

JUNIORS (6)

SOPHOMORES (6)

FRESHMEN (2)

SCOUTING CATAWBA COLLEGE

Catawba College will begin their second-ever men’s volleyball season this Saturday in Fairfax. Last season, the Indians finished their inaugural season with an overall record of 13-12 and an Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (IVA) Conference record of 1-2. They entered the IVA Tournament as the four-seed and fell to No. 5 Rockhurst in the first round of the tournament, 3-1, in St. Louis, Mo.

HISTORY WITH THE INDIANS

This will be George Mason’s first-ever meeting with Catawba College.

UP NEXT

After the home opener, the Patriots will travel to Columbus, Ohio, for two matches. They will face host Ohio State on Jan. 15, followed by meeting with Long Beach State the following day (Jan. 16). The Patriots will then return home to host Merrimack on Jan. 24^th at 6 pm at the RAC.

 

The University of Missouri’s track and field team returns to the recently renovated Hearnes Center indoor track facility for its first home meet of the season, hosting the Alexis Jarrett Invitational in Columbia, Mo., at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.

First opened in 1972, the Hearnes Center has served as a central home for Missouri’s volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics (until 2026) and track & field. The Fieldhouse originally featured a 200-meter track, sprint straightaway and multiple event runways. Now, it features a 200m, 21m Radius and 12 Degree Banked Mondo Track. Over its history, the center has hosted major competitions including the 1991 Big Eight Indoor Track & Field Championship and continues to be a key site for the team.

Last Year’s Alexis Jarrett Invitational

Last year, the Tigers had their first home meet of the season during this invitational. During this meet, 15 Tigers set personal bests across nine different events. On top of that, 12 different Tigers had event wins such as Sam Innes and Petra Gombas for their throws. Alongside them, Reagan Kimrey had a 13.60m shot put throw and Anna Vedral led the pole-vaulters. Lastly, Rahel Broemmel set a career mark in the 1000m.

The Tigers have 39 women athletes on the roster this season, each competing in their respective events.

The Tigers’ roster features 30 male athletes ready for the 2026 season.

With a deep and stacked roster on both the men’s and women’s sides, the Tigers enter the Alexis Jarrett Invitational ready to open the indoor season strong at home. Veteran leaders and new athletes across all event groups will push for early success this weekend.

“I think that they’re ready to be better versions of themselves in a really short period of time, based on what I’m seeing,” assistant coach TJ Harris said.

To read more about Missouri’s Track & Field team, follow @Rock MNation and @SophBleedsLa on X.com

CHICAGO – DePaul track and field is ready to return to competition on Saturday, Jan. 10, following a brief hiatus, as the Blue Demons head back to Gately Park. While the meet takes place at DePaul’s home venue, the shared facility will be hosted by Wisconsin this weekend as part of the Badger Midwest Invite. DePaul returns to the Badger Midwest Invite for the third consecutive season with hopes of strong performances on both the track and in the field.
 
The Field
DePaul will compete alongside a local field that includes Ball State, Chicago State, UIC, and Wisconsin. Field events begin at 2 p.m. CT, followed by track events at 3:55 p.m. CT, with finals slated for 5:40 p.m. CT.
 
December Rewind
The Blue Demons carry early momentum into the new year after competing in three December meets at Notre Dame, Boston University, and Gately Indoor. To open the year in South Bend, Ind., Jaiden Gary and Jaiah Hopf earned first-place finishes in the shot put and long jump, respectively, while Katelyn Welsh became DePaul’s first female pole vaulter in program history.
 
In Boston, Vivian Wyller posted a personal-best time of 17:11.22 in the 5,000 meters before an outstanding day for DePaul at its home meet, the Blue Demon Holiday Classic. The meet saw 12 individual event champions crowned, with 21 personal records set during the Blue Demons’ final competition of the 2025 calendar year.
 
Newcomers
To open the 2025–26 DePaul University Winter Quarter, the Blue Demons’ women’s track and field team welcomed two newcomers. Helen Baumgarten, an international product from Germany, enters her redshirt-junior campaign after transferring from New Orleans. The multi-event specialist reunites with first-year DePaul assistant coach Ben Hibbert.
 
Antioch, Ill., native and Ball State transfer Rosie Gonzales joins the Blue Demons as a freshman. Gonzales specializes in distance running and hails from Antioch Community High School, located roughly three miles south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Both newcomers join the fray hoping to make an immediate impact.
 
Follow along with DePaul at the Badger Midwest Invite: Live Results | Event Schedule | Blue Demons
 
Up Next
The Blue Demons compete locally at the Cardinal Opener on Saturday, Jan. 17, hosted by North Central College.

Well, thanks to so many of you guys that have come out this morning. We’re excited to, to be here. Um, my name is Kirsten Bernthal Booth. I’m the president of business operations for Love, Nebraska, and we have *** special announcement, um, before we open at home on Sunday. So I’m gonna now turn it over to Jordan Larson for *** few words. Hey everyone, welcome. Um, so I’m gonna kind of read this just because. We’re probably gonna be fumbled, so I’m gonna try to get through it, but I’ve read it probably 10 times, so hopefully, there’s no tears. Um, the season isn’t about an ending. It’s about celebrating that made the journey possible. Oh, after this year, I’ll be stepping away from competitive volleyball, and rather than making this the finish line, I want to spend this season honoring the people, places, and moments that shaped it all. Are you. Every gym, every jersey, every teammate coach, and Van has played *** role, and this year is my way of saying thank you. It’s been I’ve been incredibly fortunate to play this game alongside people who challenged me. Pushed me and supported me and believe in something bigger than myself. None of this would have happened alone. This season is for the shared work, the memories and lessons and for the love of the game that has been constant from the very beginning. So I wanna celebrate together, um, one more season competing, connecting and appreciate just how special this ride has been. Um, grateful for every step and ready for one more. And, um, I think just recognizing how special it is for me to be home and be able to do this in front of *** state that just really loves volleyball and this really isn’t about me. There’s been so many greats that have come on before me and maybe haven’t had. The proper buy to the game and um I hope this is just kind of setting that foundation for others to to follow suit.