Sports

VB | Strong Blocking Day Not Enough to Propel Gaels Past Lions

Published

1 month ago

November 27, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary’s (11-17, 9-8 WCC) continued their strong play at the net, but struggled to get the offense going, falling to LMU (6-20, 4-13 WCC) in four in their penultimate match of the season. The Gaels will look to regroup for their finale on Saturday against Pepperdine, looking to play spoilers against the Waves, who are still looking for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Gaels erased an early 5-1 deficit in set one to gain their first lead at 10-9. That lead would only last one set, however, as the Lions would close out the set on a 15-8 run to work ahead one set to none. Abby Castillon accounted for four of the Gaels 12 set one kills, while Alayna Pearson went for seven digs and an ace in the opening frame.

S1 | SMC 2 – LMU 5

Heroic save from Alayna Pearson, and the little tip from Abby Castillon for the kill!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/PzUvGOBDMO

— Saint Mary’s Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 26, 2025

S1 | SMC 7 – LMU 8

Another dose of Pearson and Castillon leading to another Gael point!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/Dwhz57sXGh

— Saint Mary’s Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 26, 2025

Set two also found the Gaels in an early hole, behind 12-9. A 5-0 run would push the Gaels in front 14-12, but a 10-6 response from LMU would put them in striking distance of 2-0 at 22-20. Four straight points, and six of the final eight, however, would give the Gaels enough to outlast the Lions at 26-24 to draw level at a set apiece, and trounce any hopes of an LMU sweep. Tessa Schouten captained the ship for the Gaels on both sides of the net, with three kills on four swings and no errors in set two, while recording three blocks. As a team, the Gaels had eight roofs in set two, with five from Layne Dent to lead the charge.

After building an early 3-1 lead in set three, the Gaels would surrender a 10-0 run, and would never quite recover, getting as close as five before ultimately falling by seven, 25-18. This set, it was MIley Thunstrom’s turn to go three for four without an error, but she was about it for the Gaels offensively in the frame.

In deja vu fashion, the Gaels again went ahead 3-1 to open set four, but this time gave up a 7-0 run to the Lions. LMU would hold the lead all the way until Saint Mary’s would level things off at 22 all, but the Gaels could never get over the hump, ultimately dropping the decisive fourth set 25-23. Layne Dent was the driving force behind the near comeback attempt, with four kills on nine swings without an error.

S4 | SMC 20 – LMU 22

Layne Dent takes care of the overpass for her 7th kill! Gaels trying to pull the comeback late!#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/w5KuzWFllj

— Saint Mary’s Volleyball (@SMC_Volleyball) November 27, 2025

Abby Castillon led all Gaels with 11 kills. Ivona Lazovic and Madi Zorn split setting duties, with 16 assists from the former and 15 from the latter. Lazovic also added nine digs, while Zorn chipped in an ace. The Gaels digs leader was libero Alayna Pearson, with 18, while also notching an ace. As a team, the Gaels had 14 blocks, one off their season-high, with seven from Layne Dent and five each from Genevieve Bane and Tessa Schouten.

SOLID AT THE NET

The Gaels tallied 14 blocks today, their second highest tally this year, helping limit LMU to a 0.126 attack clip. Seven different Gaels recorded a block, led by a career-high seven from freshman Layne Dent. Tessa Schouten and Genevieve Bane each added five, while Miley Thunstrom matched her career-high with four. Rounding out the group, Abby Castillon, Kaliko Kealoha and Anaya Thrower all totalled one.

GROWING UP BEFORE OUR EYES

True freshman Layne Dent made her first collegiate start a week ago, and followed that up with her second this past Saturday, and while she came of the bench today, it was arguably her best match yet. The Eatonville, Washington native matched her career-high with seven kills, while setting a new career mark with seven blocks. Dent swung 18 times, the most in her young career, and was very efficient, with a 0.333 clip and just one error. Over her last three matches, Dent has gone for 17 kills and 13 blocks, while tallying just two kills and one block prior to this recent stretch.

UP NEXT

The Gaels will round out their season taking on Pepperdine in Malibu on Saturday, November 29. First serve is set for noon.

#GaelsRise

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Sports

Tennessee Tech Closes 2025 with Tennessee State at Eblen Center

Published

36 minutes ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech (6-7, 1-1) men’s basketball plays its final game of 2025 against Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1) at Hooper Eblen Center at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The Golden Eagles return to the hardwood after an extended break for the holidays to face the Tigers. TSU has won five of the last seven games but most recently fell, 91-82, to SEMO, opening OVC competition 1-1. Tech has won three of the last four games and opened conference play with an 85-74 victory over SEMO, then fell to UT Martin (L, 62-86).

TTU enters today’s game 4-2 at home this season with wins over SEMO, Bethel (101-69), Berea (86-64), and Va. Lynchburg (118-58), and losses to West Ga. (L, 59-61) and UT Martin (L, 62-86).

GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: Tennessee Tech (6-7, 1-1 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1 OVC)
Date & Time: Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT
Venue: Hooper Eblen Center
Watch: ESPN+ | Dylan Vazzano (PxP) and Frank Harrell (Analyst)
Radio: 106.1 The Eagle | Noah McKay (PxP) and Jacob Vinson (Analyst)
Promotion: Purple Haze – WEAR PURPLE!

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: TSU leads, 41-39
In Cookeville: Tech leads, 23-17
In Nashville: TSU leads, 18-22
Neutral sites: TSU leads 2-0
Current Streak: TTU won 1
Last Meeting: TTU won 77-74 in Cookeville (Feb. 22, 2025)

TECH NOTES
Dani Pounds leads Tech in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game (19th in OVC), and Mekhi Cameron is second on the team with 12.2 points per game (20th in OVC). Pounds is fourth in the OVC in free-throw percentage, shooting 84.1 from the line. Pounds leads the Golden Eagles in rebounds with 4.8 per game (20th in OVC).

JaJuan Nicholls is second on the team in rebounds per game (4.7), which is 23rd in the conference.

Tennessee Tech’s 118 points against Va. Lynchburg (W, 118-58, 11/10/25) mark the third-most points scored in a single game by an OVC team this season.

Ty Owens is second in the OVC with 4.2 assists per game (54 total). Nicholls is tied for fifth in the conference in blocks per game (1.2) and fourth in the OVC in total blocks (16).

The Golden Eagles are second in the conference in points per game (79.7), as well as fourth in the conference in scoring margin (3.5). TTU holds the second-best shooting percentage in the OVC (47.0, 365-777), making three fewer shots than the conference leaders (Lindenwood, 47.4).

OPPONENT NOTES
Tennessee State (7-5, 1-1) leads the all-time series 41-39 as the teams split the last two matchups during the 2024-25 season.

The Tigers are coming off a hard-fought 91–82 loss to Southeast Missouri at the Gentry Center, while the Golden Eagles also enter the contest following a defeat.

The game marks the return to action for both programs after a 10-day break. Tennessee State will open the 2026 calendar year on the road at Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Aaron Nkrumah leads the Tigers in scoring with 17.0 points per game, averaging 4.8 rebounds per contest and 2.6 assists per game. Travis Harper II is second on the team with 15.8 points per game, and Dante Harris is third on the squad per contest with 12.6 points on average.

PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Men’s Basketball are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, or order online at TTUsports.com.

FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Fans can be sure to follow the Golden Eagles men’s basketball team on X (@TTU_Basketball), Instagram (TTUMBB), and Facebook (TTU MBB) for all of the news, notes, and updates.

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Sports

Top 25 Moments of 2025

Published

51 minutes ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Helms, a transfer from Texas A&M, bested his previous Heptathlon score of 5394 which he earned at the Stan Scott Invite and Multis taking place on Jan. 30-Feb. 1, hosted by Texas Tech. He has had immense success in the Key City, posting three different splits at the Red Raider open in the 60m hurdles (8.30), 4x400m (3:16.21, 49.27 split) and pole vault (16-2/4.93m).

At the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Robertson has etched herself in the record books. At the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, she recorded the best finish by a Bronco since the 2022 campaign by finishing 53rd in a field of 254 total runners.

Robertson was the first Bronco woman to earn All-America honors in the 1,500 since 2019 (Emma Bates). Hanna Ackermann also posted a top finish while in Eugene. Ackermann recorded a time of 9:54.21 in the steeplechase. The time was the third-fastest time in Boise State history.

Helms registered a score of 7,696 in the decathlon. His mark ranks third in Boise State school history and improved his previous mark in the decathlon at the 2025 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships which were hosted by Fresno State in Clovis, California.

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Shondell Inks Transfer Lameen Mambu – Purdue Boilermakers

Published

1 hour ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Outside hitter Lameen “Mimi” Mambu is set to transfer to Purdue volleyball, announced by head coach Dave Shondell. Mambu joins the Boilermakers after spending her freshman season at Georgia Tech, where she led the Yellow Jackets’ offense with 345 points and 304 kills.

“What a wonderful Christmas gift to get the commitment from a smart and dynamic student-athlete,” Shondell said. “We’re excited to have this hard-hitting high-flyer join our team after such a strong first season at Georgia Tech where she helped lead them to an NCAA tournament appearance. We watched Mimi play in high school and knew she would be a special player. Mimi learned so much about our program from Kash [Akasha Anderson] and Isabelle Bardin who are good friends from the D.C. area.”

2025 // AS A FRESHMAN AT GEORGIA TECH

Played in all 30 matches as a freshman, making 25 starts
Led Georgia Tech’s offense with 345 points, 304 kills and 854 attempts while averaging 2.92 kills per set
Posted 10 digs, seven kills and two block assists at Purdue in Georgia Tech’s 3-1 win at Purdue (9/3).
Averaged one dig per set with .46 blocks per set
Recorded a season-high 17 kills vs. Georgia (9/19)
Secured a career-high 20 points vs. Arkansas State (8/31), including a career-high 16 digs and 16 kills
Registered three double-doubles
Went nearly errorless on the attack in the sweep at Clemson (11/12), posting a .481 attack % behind 14 kills and one error on 27 swings
Saw at least 20 attacks in 25 matches and 40 attacks in four matches
Served up four aces in the season-opener vs. Wofford (8/29), a career-high
Totaled 14 kills, second-most on the team, along with four digs and a block assist in the five set loss to UCLA in the NCAA First Round

HIGH SCHOOL

Spent four years playing at Chantilly High School
A three-time District Player of the Year award winner (2022-2024)
Three-time All-State First Team honoree (2022-2024)
Four-time All-Region First Team honoree (2021-2024)
Led her to team to become three-time District Champions (2021, 2022, 2024) and two-time Regional Champions (2022 And 2024)
2025 Under Armor Next Volleyball All-American competitor
Won a silver medal with the United States U19 National Team during the summer of 2025

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Best of small school volleyball in Palm Beach

Published

1 hour ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 28, 2025, 10:54 a.m. ET

The 2025 Palm Beach Post All-County teams are here!

The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for small school volleyball.

Player of the Year winners will be announced at the South Florida Fair in a live ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 24. Nominees will be able to register to attend for free, thanks to sponsors. For more information about the show, please reach out to deputy sports editor Eric J. Wallace (ejwallace@pbpost.com).

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Best of large school volleyball in Palm Beach

Published

2 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 28, 2025, 10:54 a.m. ET

The 2025 Palm Beach Post All-County teams are here!

The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for large school volleyball.

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Sports

December 28 – Kelly Sheffield was hired to coach UW-Madison’s Volleyball team

Published

2 hours ago

December 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MADISON, Wis. — On this day, December 28, 2012, Kelly Sheffield was hired as Wisconsin’s head volleyball coach, instantly propelling the program into one of the best in the country.

The Badgers had been coached by Pete Waite for the previous 13 years, and the program had been struggling since 2008. Sheffield turned things around immediately in his first season, making it all the way to the national championship in 2013, falling just short to Penn State.

Since then, the Badgers have made the NCAA tournament each season and have not lost more than 10 games in any season since he was hired.

He led the program to the top of the mountain in 2021, when they defeated Nebraska for the first championship in program history.

Since then, they have made the Final Four twice, most recently this past season, where they fell just short to the Kentucky Wildcats in five sets.

Sheffield has also coached 20 different Badgers to 45 All-American nominations, headlined by Dana Rettke and Sarah Franklin who won AVCA Player of the Year honors in 2021 and 2023.

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