Sports

Viking Pride Is Evident On PSU Athletics Staff As Alums Now Contribute Off The Field

Published

6 months ago

June 19, 2025

Portland State University has always been a breeding ground for outstanding athletic talent, and now some of its most accomplished alumni are returning to contribute in a new way.

There are many ways to judge the quality of experience student athletes have during their years in a specific athletic program. One of those is the number who decide to return and work for their alma mater.

“We have a number of student-athletes who have returned to PSU as coaches or in athletic administrative capacities and that shows that they liked their experience enough here that they wanted to come back after graduation,” said Lund.

The nearly 20 coaches and staff members who are alums currently working are a testament to the experience these people had at Portland State and should be a good indication to anyone considering coming here of the value as athletes and students that’s intrinsic in the PSU experience, he added.

“These are people who want to give back to the institution and to help others have the same quality experience they had,” said Lund.

He pointed to four current athletic administrative staff members as good examples of people wanting to help younger athletes have the same fun and productive experience they had.

Paige Donathan, Malik Thirdgill, Tyson Pauling and Olivia Dean—once student athletes who wore PSU colors with pride—have returned to the university to work within the athletic department, bringing their unique experiences and insights to empower the next generation of Vikings.

Donathan, a former soccer star (2017-2020), donned the PSU jersey as a dynamic forward, leading her team in goals during her senior year. Her journey to PSU was spurred by a desire to remain in the Pacific Northwest and participate in a strong collegiate soccer program. Throughout her athletic career, adversity taught her valuable lessons in resilience.

“I was recruited as a defender and played that position until injuries restricted me from consistently playing 90 minutes. But, I wanted to make a difference on the field, so I transitioned to forward my senior season. Adapting to change is what defined my time here, and it shaped the way I want to support future athletes,” Donathan said.

Now, as an Athletic Academic Advisor to women’s soccer, women’s softball and men’s basketball, she is committed to fostering the same spirit of perseverance among current student athletes.

“I enjoy the constant interaction with the student-athletes I oversee,” she said. “Seeing their growth throughout the years, both academically and athletically, is amazing.”

Donathan’s involvement as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) also has equipped her to advocate for the athletes she now mentors.

Her athletic academic advisor left a positive impact on her life. “I remember not knowing exactly what I wanted to do after graduation with my Masters and telling my family it would be really cool to do what my athletic academic advisor did,” Donathan said.

“The thing that interested me the most was the ability to encourage, support and cheer on the student-athletes in the classroom and on the field, court or track. You have the power to positively impact these athletes during their student-athlete experience at PSU,” she said.

“I enjoy the constant interaction with the student-athletes I oversee. Seeing the growth throughout the years academically and athletically is amazing. I am part of their support team and in a position to advocate for them throughout their student-athlete experience here. Assisting athletes to discover their passions academically and professionally is very rewarding,” said Donathan.

Thirdgill, a tight end for the PSU football team from 2018 to 2022, shares a similar belief in giving back to the program he once trained in. Thirdgill felt PSU was a great school to build on the connections he had already made as a native Portlander who prepped at Central Catholic High School.

“I ended up at Portland State because I felt like this was a good school to be able to build on my connections,” he said. “I loved my time at Portland State. I was able to grow individually, athletically, professionally and educationally. As I hung up my cleats and moved on in life, I’ve been able to focus on sharing the environment that helped me become the person I am today and I’m able to share what college athletics has to offer to youth programs and organizations.”

As Director of Ticket Sales and Service, Thirdgill said he sees the impact he can have on sports from a different angle.

He enjoys “the day-to-day interactions with campus partners and athletic staff and being able to collaborate with campus partners and outside organizations to find a way that athletes can contribute and help their mission, is by far the best part of my job.”

Pauling and Dean round out this impressive group of returning athletic alumni, both of whom have brought their own experiences and expertise to the athletic department.

Pauling, a standout offensive lineman from 2018-2022, joined the Viking program out of Victorville, CA. He enjoyed his PSU experience on and off the field, especially upsetting the University of Montana on a 52-yard field goal in 2018 and Eastern Washington in 2022 on their home turf.

“I liked that PSU is in the heart of downtown Portland and that there is so much to do. Coming from Victorville, CA, sort of in the middle of nowhere, I had many opportunities right in the palm of my hand in Portland,” he said.

As Compliance Coordinator, Pauling said “there is something very special about being able to come back into this building (Stott Center) because it still feels like I am still going to work as a student-athlete. My biggest thing is giving back to PSU because there was so much that was given to me from this athletic department…it will always have a special place in my heart.”

His Portland State student experience “gave me growth in my football career and the opportunity to play with the Calgary Stampeders. It gave me the growth academically enabling me to walk out of here with a Master’s degree and it gave me growth within the friendships that will last a lifetime. Those are the things that drew me back here.”

He said the “impact I have when I am able to have conversations with some of our student-athletes is what I enjoy most because I was once standing in the same spot they are now. I like working with the staff here because I see the time and effort that goes toward making sure our student-athletes succeed at the highest level.”

Dean, an All-Big Sky Conference selection as shortstop on PSU’s women’s softball team (2021-2023), transitioned from player to assistant coach for PSU Softball Head Coach Meadow McWhorter.

“I knew that I wanted a career in athletics because it has always been a passion of mine, so when Coach Meadow asked me to come on as a volunteer coach last year, it was a no-brainer,” she recalled.

Dean was also working in game operations while coaching and soon moved into a role as assistant director of operations.

“What interests me the most is the ability to be hands-on with every sport. I’ve learned to respect what goes into running a game and the support it takes to be a successful athlete,” Dean said.

Coming back (well, never really going away), has been a perfect fit. “I love that it feels like home. I’ve been here for almost five years now. Throughout my time as an athlete, I made so many wonderful connections, from coaching staff to friends and now great coworkers. It has been important during my transition into the workforce to feel so welcomed in a career right out of college. The PSU staff was immediately there for me,” said Dean.

The collective experiences of Donathan, Thirdgill, Pauling and Dean create a powerful network of support within the athletic department. All four alumni share a profound understanding of the challenges and triumphs that student athletes face, and they are uniquely positioned to guide and advocate for them.

“Our goal is to create an atmosphere where student athletes feel empowered to pursue their dreams, both on the field and in the classroom,” Donathan said.

With their backgrounds in athletics, they are keenly aware of the pressures that accompany being a student-athlete and are dedicated to providing tailored support to help current Vikings overcome those challenges. This new wave of leadership at PSU symbolizes a bright future for the university’s athletic programs.

Donathan and her colleagues bring not just their experiences, but a shared passion for uplifting the student-athlete community.

As these four returnees – and a number of other Viking alums on staff – leave their mark on the PSU athletic landscape, their stories serve as a reminder of the potential that lies within every student-athlete. They embody the spirit of perseverance, community and mentorship that PSU instills. With a commitment to equity, inclusion and support, PSU’s returning alumni—both administrative and in coaching—aim to uplift and guide the next generation of athletes.

Their journey back to PSU is not just a homecoming—it’s a mission to empower young athletes to achieve their dreams, carry forward the legacy of PSU, and create a lasting positive impact on the university community. As they strive to make a difference, the future looks promising for PSU athletics, backed by a team of dedicated alumni who understand the heart and hustle required to succeed in both sports and life.

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Sports

Trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming hits back at claim about female teammate’s eating disorder

Published

10 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Transgender college volleyball player Blaire Fleming has hit back at claims that she triggered her teammate’s eating disorder due to emotional distress — and said that she doesn’t “feel bad for her.”

Fleming, 23, was at the center of a scandal last year involving Brooke Slusser, who filed multiple lawsuits against her San Jose State University (SJSU) teammate after discovering that she was transgender.

Slusser alleged that the panic and stress from that period of her life led her to develop an eating disorder, leading to anorexia so severe that her menstrual cycle stopped for nine months.

The pair had previously shared hotel rooms and changing spaces for a whole season in 2023 before Slusser said she found out that Fleming, who is biologically male but reportedly started medically transitioning at 14, was trans.

“From the stress and how anxious I was every single day, I just wasn’t eating really at all,” Slusser told Fox News Digital last week.

“I went from around 160 to 128 [lbs] in that one semester. It definitely isn’t healthy for someone of my size to be that weight, and I ended up losing my menstrual cycle for nine months. So it was definitely severe,” she said.

Slusser later dropped her classes in the final semester this past spring, citing constant in-person harassment by students who opposed her stance.

Fleming has since responded, claiming that Slusser’s eating disorder dated back for as long as she knew her, prior to her learning that she was trans.

“She’s been anorexic and struggled with food since I’ve known her aka since 2023. She literally would weigh herself 2-3x a day and keep track of it on her whiteboard in her room,” Fleming told Fox News Digital on Sunday.

“So I really don’t care or feel bad for her. And she didn’t drop her classes, she failed out, hope that helps!” Fleming said.

Slusser has now come back and disputed Fleming’s allegations.

“These statements are just not true. I have always lived a very healthy lifestyle. Before these events took place I was very disciplined in fueling myself for athletics and [kept] track to make sure I was where I need to be to be the best athlete,” Slusser told Fox News Digital.

“It wasn’t until all the craziness started that my healthy lifestyle turned very unhealthy into not eating the amount I should,” Slusser said.

“As for school, I decided to stay home after fall 2024 to better myself and heal. So no, I did not return to San Jose and enroll myself in more courses at an institution that didn’t have my best interest,” she added.

Slusser alleged that she was never told Fleming’s birth sex and said the two regularly shared hotel rooms on away trips, according to her lawsuits filed against the NCAA and Mountain West Conference.

Fleming allegedly requested to be roomed with Slusser, a request she said was granted by team leadership, according to lawsuits.

Slusser said that the 6ft1 Fleming confessed to being transgender during a conversation over ice cream with another teammate in April 2024.

In September 2024, Slusser joined swimmer Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA.

At the same time, SJSU’s volleyball team saw a series of forfeits by opposing teams, with police protection regularly assigned.

The US Department of Education is currently investigating SJSU for potential Title IX violations.

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K-State’s Season Ends in Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Published

27 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LINCOLN, Neb. – K-State volleyball saw its season come to an end Saturday night at Bob Devaney Sports Center, as the Wildcats fell to No. 1 Nebraska in straight sets in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, 17-25, 21-25, 16-25.

Nebraska (32-0, 20-0 Big Ten), the No. 1 overall national seed, carded 43 kills with Andi Jackson and Harper Murray each putting down 10 kills. Jackson hit at a .533 clip with two errors on 15 attempts. Taylor Landfair added eight kills.

Six different Wildcats (18-10, 10-8 Big 12) contributed a kill in the match paced by seven from Aniya Clinton. An All-Big 12 Second Team selection, Clinton turned in five digs with three blocks to lead the Cats with nine total points.

The Wildcats forced 18 errors from the Cornhuskers – Nebraska’s most since September 16 against Creighton (26) – producing an 8.0-5.0 advantage in total team blocks, led by five from senior Brenna Schmidt.

The 18 attack errors marked the Huskers’ fourth-highest total of the season, joining 20-plus error outings against Creighton (26), Kentucky (25) and Pittsburgh (23).The match also marked just the fifth time in which the Cornhuskers were held below the .300 threshold, as the team’s .253 hitting percentage was the team’s fourth lowest output of the year.

Of the 52 sets played at the Devaney Center, K-State’s 21 points in Set 2 marked just the 11^th set Nebraska allowed 20-plus points at home.

LeGrand, who earned All-Big 12 Second Team recognition Tuesday, handed out 19 assists to go along with a team-high nine digs. K-State also got six digs from Symone Sims and Shaylee Myers, who put down six kills.

Nebraska will advance to the Regional Semifinals of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and will face No. 16 national seed Kansas (24-10, 13-5 Big 12) on Friday, December 12 in Lincoln.

FROM THE CATS
JASON MANSFIELD, K-STATE HEAD COACH
Overall Statement…
“Congratulations to Nebraska on a really good match. Elite defensive team and their offense was good at times. I’m really proud of our team and just the fight that we had in all three sets. I felt like we battled with them for a while, just couldn’t sustain it. Just really proud of this team and what we accomplished this season.”

On the 2025 senior class…
“They’ve been special. We’ve talked about it all the way back in January, I felt like this team was going to take the program to a different place and the seniors were going to lead us in that direction, and they have. All five of them are very unique, very special, they’re different in their own way. They’ve added so much to our program their whole career, really, but their senior season was special. There’s no substitute for urgency and I think they were really urgent this whole season in trying to get us to this place. I’m really proud of them and they’ll be remembered forever.”

AVA LEGRAND, SENIOR SETTER
On setting the standard for the next generation of K-State players…
“We want it to be the standard to make it to the tournament and not only make it to the tournament, but to make it to the next round. And hopefully every year we get past the next hump. That is something we tried instilling in the freshmen and younger girls, and hopefully for the future of this program we will have a standard here and K-State is going to be one to remember.”

On ending her career in her hometown state…
“It comes full circle. I had such a great cheering section with so many friends and family members that it was so awesome to see them all out there. But also, just Bob Devaney is a special place. Growing up in Nebraska, it’s a volleyball state, can’t deny that, but hearing the fans cheer for all us Nebraska girls was pretty awesome, but I think full circle comes to mind.”

ANIYA CLINTON, SENIOR OUTSIDE HITTER/OPPOSITE
On the senior leadership…
“This is kind of where we want our program to be and we don’t want it to start here. This is a spot that we’ve brought our program, and we don’t want it to stop here. This is a spot that we’ve brought our program, and I think we’ve done a really good job as seniors leading so I hope that the next group of seniors continues to follow in our footsteps.”

SET-BY-SET
Set 1 – #1/(1) Nebraska 25, K-State 17

Nebraska jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead behind a pair of kills from Rebekah Allick and aces from Laney Choboy and Virginia Adriano.

Four unanswered points for K-State highlighted a 6-1 scoring run that trimmed a seven-point deficit, 15-8, to two. The run included a block by Clinton and Schmidt, along with a service ace from Emerson Van Lannen – her 28^th of the season.

The Wildcats were held to a .086 hitting percentage (8 kills, 5 errors, 35 swings) in the opening frame against the Cornhuskers’ .250 (16 kills, 7 errors, 36 attempts).

K-State out-blocked Nebraska in Set 1, 4.0-2.0.

Set 2 – #1/(1) Nebraska 25, K-State 21

The Wildcats captured their first lead of the match, 4-1, with a pair of blocks from Schmidt, Clinton and LeGrand.

After seven tied scores, Nebraska ran away with a 4-0 scoring run to take the first substantial lead of the set, 13-10, but was answered with kills from Schmidt and Reagan Fox to make it a one-point score.

K-State came out of a timeout with a kill from LeGrand to spark a 4-1 run, that included three consecutive kills from LeGrand, Fox and Clinton, bridging the gap to two, 22-20.

The run forced a timeout from Nebraska, their first of the match, and was followed by a solo stop by Schmidt.

With the score notched at 22-21, Nebraska put together a 3-0 closing run to put the set away.

K-State recorded a set-best .171 hitting percentage behind 12 kills on 35 attempts with six errors, while the defense limited Nebraska to a .139 clip (12 kills, 7 errors, 36 swings) with four blocks.

Set 3 – #1/(1) Nebraska 25, K-State 16

After back-and forth action, the Wildcats pieced together a 4-0 scoring run to take a one-point lead.

Tied 8-8, the Cornhuskers rattled off an 8-1 scoring run to overcome the deficit and take control of the set.

K-State managed just seven kills in the final set, hitting at a .097 efficiency, while Nebraska turned in a match-high .393 clip (15 kills, 4 errors, 28 errors).

INSIDE THE BOX

Nebraska defeated K-State in straight sets to advance to the Regional Semifinals – 25-17, 25-21, 25-16.

K-State turned in a .118 hitting percentage (27 kills, 15 errors, 118 attempts), while Nebraska finished with a .243 efficiency (43 kills, 18 errors, 99 attempts).

The 18 attack errors marked the Huskers’ fourth-highest total of the season.

The match also marked just the fifth time the Cornhuskers were held below a .300 hitting percentage.

The team’s .253 hitting percentage was the team’s fourth lowest output of the year.

Clinton led the Wildcats with seven kills to go with five digs and three blocks.

Myers finished with six kills while Fox added five.

LeGrand handed out 19 assists and logged a team-leading nine digs.

LeGrand and Van Lannen each recorded a service ace.

The Cats out-blocked the Cornhuskers, 8-5.

Nebraska was led by Jackson’s 10 kills at a .533 clip. Murray also put down 10 kills.

Olivia Mauch finished with a match-high 13 digs and Laney Choboy picked up 12.

Of 52 sets played at the Devaney Center, K-State’s 21 points in Set 2 marked just the 11^th set Nebraska allowed 20-plus points at home.

BEYOND THE BOX

In its history, K-State has made the NCAA Tournament 19 times, advancing to the Regional Semifinal three times (2000, 2003, 2011).

K-State is 16-19 overall in the tournament, that includes a 3-10 record in the second round.

The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, making the program’s 12^th overall appearance in the round.

The 2025 postseason run marks K-State’s sixth time being sent to Lincoln for the first-round in school history (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2025).

Nebraska leads the all-time series 84-4, that includes a 36-3 record at home.

Saturday’s contest marks the third meeting between the Wildcats and Cornhuskers in the postseason and first since 2011.

The Cats are 1-2 in the postseason series vs. the Huskers.

In 2011, K-State upset third-seeded Nebraska in five sets to advance to the team’s third NCAA Regional Semifinal (Sweet 16).

The Wildcats were 9-5 in three-set matches this season.

K-State is now 9-9 is three-set matches all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

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Sports

Huskers Sweep Wildcats to Advance to NCAA Regional – University of Nebraska

Published

43 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LINCOLN, Neb. – The No. 1 Nebraska volleyball team advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 14th year in a row with a 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 win over Kansas State on Saturday in front of a crowd of 8,601 at John Cook Arena at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Andi Jackson and Harper Murray tied for match-high honors with 10 kills apiece, as the Huskers improved to 32-0 on the season. Aniya Clinton led Kansas State with seven kills, as the Wildcats ended their season with an 18-10 record.

Nebraska hit .253 in the match and held Kansas State to a .118 attack percentage, the seventh straight match the Huskers out-hit their opponent by at least .100. Nebraska had a 43-27 advantage in kills and a 48-32 edge in digs, while the Wildcats out-blocked the Huskers, 8-5.

Jackson hit .533 in the match, producing her 10 kills on just 15 swings. Taylor Landfair (8 kills), Virginia Adriano (7) and Rebekah Allick (6) all had more than five kills, as Bergen Reilly dished out 34 assists. Defensively, Olivia Mauch had 13 digs and Laney Choboy added 12 digs. Both players also had two aces apiece, as Nebraska served up seven aces while allowing only two aces.

Set 1: Early aces by Choboy and Adriano and two kills by Allick helped the Huskers to a 7-2 advantage. The Wildcats pulled within 9-7 before a pair of Landfair kills and a solo block by Adriano helped NU to a 14-7 lead after a 5-0 run served by Reilly. Kansas State cut it to 16-14, but Murray tooled a block and Jackson tacked on a kill to make it 18-14 Big Red. Sigler made an unbelievable one-handed save over the net to keep a rally alive that resulted in another Murray kill. Jackson and Reilly swatted a Wildcat attack, and Murray added a kill to make it 21-14 after Mauch’s 5-0 service run. Kills by Murray and Landfair made it 23-15, and the Big Red won 25-17.

Set 2: The Huskers fell into a 4-1 hole to begin the set, but two kills by Murray around an ace by Mauch erased the deficit. Landfair put the Huskers on top 6-5 with a kill. KSU regained a 10-9 lead, but a service error by the Wildcats, an ace by Choboy and a block by Jackson and Adriano led to NU going up 13-10. A pair of kills by Jackson had NU ahead 15-13 at the media break. A Landfair kill and ace by Reilly pushed NU’s lead to four, 19-15, and Landfair and Murray tacked on kills to make it 21-16. NU led 22-17 when Kansas State went on a 4-0 run to cut it to 22-21. Allie Sczech posted a key sideout kill, and K-State hit wide for set point. Murray and Jackson ended the set, 25-21, with a block.

Set 3: The Huskers came out swinging with kills by Allick and Adriano, and three in a row by Jackson helped NU take a 7-6 lead. A decisive 8-1 run put the Huskers up 16-10. Landfair and Adriano had kills, and Sigler served an ace. Adriano’s fourth kill of the set made it 18-12, and Mauch served an ace before a Jackson kill increased NU’s lead to 20-12. Murray tacked on two kills to extend the run to 5-0. The Huskers finished off the sweep, 25-16.

Up Next: The Huskers will play No. 16 Kansas in a regional semifinal on Friday night on ESPN2. No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 9 Louisville are also headed to Lincoln and will play in the first regional semifinal at 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday. Nebraska and Kansas will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Texas A&M-Louisville match.

The regional final will be played on Sunday with the time to be determined on Friday night.

Nebraska Post-Match Notes

With the win, Nebraska advanced to an NCAA Regional for the 14th consecutive season and for the 41st time in program history. The Huskers’ 41 regional appearances are the most in NCAA history, while Nebraska’s 14 consecutive regional appearances rank second nationally.
With the win, Nebraska improved to 136-38 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers rank second in NCAA history in postseason wins and winning percentage (.782).
The win was Nebraska’s 32nd consecutive victory, which ties for the third-longest winning streak in school history.
Nebraska improved to 31-2 all-time in second-round NCAA Tournament matches.
The Huskers improved to 89-7 all-time in home NCAA Tournament matches, including a 34-2 record at the Devaney Center.
Nebraska has won 28 consecutive home matches in the NCAA Tournament, a school record.
Overall, Nebraska has won 62 consecutive home matches dating back to Dec. 1, 2022. That ranks as the sixth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history and the third-longest streak in Husker history.
The Huskers improved to 64-1 all-time against unranked opponents in the NCAA.
Nebraska was the first to 20 points in each of the three sets. The Huskers are now 92-0 this season in sets when reaching 20 points first.
Nebraska took a 2-0 lead in the match, and the Huskers are now 105-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament when taking a 2-0 lead.
With the sweep, the Huskers have won 45 consecutive sets at home. On the season, Nebraska has a 51-1 set record at home.
Kansas State scored the first two points of set two, marking the first time Nebraska had trailed in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskers did not trail in their first four sets of the postseason.
Nebraska limited Kansas State to 27 kills, marking the 13th time this season the Huskers have allowed fewer than 30 kills.
Andi Jackson had 10 kills on 15 swings against Kansas State. In two matches on the weekend, Jackson had 20 kills on 27 swings, hitting .667.

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Wisconsin volleyball vs. Stanford NCAA tournament time, TV released

Published

59 minutes ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 7, 2025, 9:49 a.m. CT

Wisconsin volleyball’s NCAA tournament regional semifinal match now has an opponent, date, time and TV assignment.

The third-seeded Badgers will face second-seeded Stanford on Dec. 12 in Austin, Texas, the NCAA announced following the conclusion of the second round.

The Wisconsin-Stanford match will begin 30 minutes after the Indiana-Texas match, which starts at 11 a.m. CT. Depending on the duration of the first match, UW could potentially begin its match between 1 and 2 p.m.

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Florida’s Season Concludes in NCAA Second Round After Falling to No.2/7 SMU

Published

1 hour ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DALLAS, TX – The University of Florida volleyball team’s 2025 campaign came to an end on Saturday night, falling to the No. 2 seed and No. 7 ranked SMU in three sets (11-25, 21-25, 24-26) in Moody Coliseum.

On top of making the program’s 35th-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, first under new leadership of Head Coach Ryan Theis, the Gators concluded the 2025 season with an 16-11 overall record. Additionally, Florida posted a 9-6 record in SEC play, matching its preseason projection with a fifth-place finish.

Offensively, Florida registered more kills than SMU, 44-41, but totaled 25 hitting errors for a .156 hitting clip to the Mustangs’ .370 clip, as they recorded only seven attacking errors.

Setter Alexis Stucky dished out 40 assists and led three Gators to double digits offensively. Jordyn Byrd led the way with a team-high 14 kills for her fifth-consecutive match in double digits, while Aniya Madkin recorded her third-straight with 11.

At the net, Jaela Auguste and Alec Rothe each had two blocks, with Auguste added 12 kills and a team-best .273 clip and Rothe chipped in six kills.

In her final match wearing the Orange and Blue, senior Emily Canaan led the Gators backcourt with 10 digs. Freshman Libero Lily Hayes and Kira Hutson each finished with six digs, while both Stucky and Ella Vogel recorded five. After subbing in during the third set, Bella Lee contributed three digs.

Behind the service line, Hayes and Stucky recorded Florida’s two aces.

SMU’s Kennedi Rogers led the Mustang’s offense with 14 kills and a .440 hitting clip.

Records:

Florida (16-12, 9-6 SEC)

No. 2/7 SMU (27-5, 17-3 ACC)

All-Time Series record:

0-0 (0-1 under Theis)

3-set: 0-1, 4-set: 0-0; 5-set: 0-0

Home: 0-0; Away: 0-1; Neutral: 0-0

How It Happened

Set 1

After opening the set 0-4, a kill from Byrd put the Gators on the board, but SMU’s block allowed for a 2-8 lead and forced an early Florida timeout. Out of the huddle, the Mustangs strung together four points, but back-to-back kills from Byrd and Rothe helped cut the deficit to 4-12. The Gators continued to struggle to find any rhythm offensively and was unable to make the comeback, falling 11-25 in the first set.

Set 1 Team Stats | .000 Hitting %|10 Kills | 9 Assists | 13 Digs | 0.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

SMU Stats | .483 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 14 Assists | 15 Digs | 5.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

SMU takes set one pic.twitter.com/gLcOG5OoMf

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) December 7, 2025

Set 2

A kill from Madkin put Florida first on the board, but the Mustangs responded with three straight to take a two-point lead. Back-to-back kills from Madkin and Auguste notched it up at five, as the two teams exchanged points until a block from Auguste and Vidacic followed by a kill from Vidacic gave the Gators a 13-10 lead and forced an SMU timeout. Out of the huddle, an ace from Hayes kept the momentum going, but the Mustangs tied it up at 17. With the race to 25 inching near, SMU went on an 8-4 scoring run to take a 25-21 second-set win and a 2-0 match lead.

Set 2 Team Stats | .222 Hitting %| 14 Kills | 12 Assists | 8 Digs | 2.0 Blocks | 2 Aces

SMU Stats | .333 Hitting %| 13 Kills | 13 Assists |12 Digs |4.0 Blocks | 3 Aces

mood Mili 💁‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/UBUqjqNTY0

— Gators Volleyball (@GatorsVB) December 7, 2025

Set 3

The Gators started set three with back-to-back kills from Madkin and Auguste, as the middle blocker recorded two more kills to give the Gators a 5-3 lead. The Mustangs went on a 3-0 scoring run to take a one-point lead, as the teams have five tied scores until the Gators strung three points behind attacks from Madkin and Auguste to head into the media timeout with a 15-12 lead. Following the break, two kills from Madkin stretched Florida’s lead to four (17-13), but SMU responded with another 3-0 run to inch back within one. Points from Byrd allowed the Gators to be the first to 20, but back-to-back kills from Kennedi Rogers allowed the Mustangs to clinch it up and take a 22-20 lead. With the race to 25 inching near, an attack from Rothe followed by a block from her and Hutson evened the score at 22, as the teams battled for points until SMU clinched the 26-24 victory.

Set 3 Team Stats | .224 Hitting %| 20 Kills | 20 Assists | 16 Digs |2.0 Blocks | 0 Aces

SMU Stats | .306 Hitting %| 14 Kills |14 Assists |17 Digs | 6.0 Blocks | 1 Ace

That ball had some POWER 🔋#NCAAWVB x 🎥 ESPN+ / @GatorsVB

pic.twitter.com/OIfXQemKkC

— NCAA Women’s Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 7, 2025

Hear from Head Coach Ryan Theis:
“Congratulations and good luck to SMU… they earned it. I thought being down 0-2 on the road, I really enjoyed our spirit in the third set. It was fun to see Aniya get going for a little bit. We scored 20 and were in it in the end and obviously didn’t finish.”

On his first year as Florida’s Head Coach…

“Transition is hard. This is my third time doing it and all of them have had challenges. Really a lot of my energy and time is spent making sure they are having a good time, a good experience and they are in a good space. It was difficult, but will continue to move forward.”

Outside Hitter Jordyn Byrd on her first year playing collegiate volleyball and her first year being a Gator…

“This season was definitely very special. We have talked about the changes this past year, so being able to do all of that with this group of girls was special to me. Coming from a different program, having everyone welcome me with such open arms meant a lot to me.”

Setter Alexis Stucky on her four years as a Gator…

“I am just super grateful. I had a wonderful experience and had such great coaching staff, such great teammates. Gainesville has given me a lot of great times and a lot of hard times. It has made me push through a lot of adversity and I am just really, really grateful for the people I have done it with.”

Notables

The Gators are now 28-6 in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

In the NCAA Tournament, Florida holds an 85-36 record.

UF moved to 6-4 in three-set matches this season and 56-16 in NCAA play.

Florida sits 6-7 in away matches during the 2025 campaign and is now 5-10 in the NCAA Tournament.

Florida’s record is 1-3 against ACC opponents.

When playing on a Saturday, Florida’s record sits 1-1.

In the month of December, UF finished with a 1-1 record.

Against AVCA Top-25 opponents, Florida’s record is 4-8.

Three names recorded double-digit kills:

One Gator finished with double-digit digs:

Alexis Stucky ranks 9th for career assists in Program history with 3,047

2025 DI women’s volleyball championship schedule
All times listed in ET

Selection show: 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30

First and second rounds: Dec. 4-5 or Dec. 5-6

Regionals: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14

Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 18

National championship: 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21 | ABC

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Sports

Women’s Indoor Track Starts Season at Utica Holiday Classic

Published

1 hour ago

December 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UTICA, N.Y. – The Union College women’s indoor track & field team got the 2025-26 season underway on Saturday afternoon at the Utica Holiday Classic, with a limited squad posting two conference championship qualifiers and two personal bests at the non-scoring meet.

First-year Eilis McKenna led three Union runners in the top-eight of the mile, earning a second-place finish with a time of 5:28.56 that qualified her for the Liberty League Championships. Classmates Kate Monaco (5:38.09) and Abbie Goodwin (6:11.12) placed fourth and eighth, respectively, for the Garnet Chargers as well.

Sophomore Charlotte Knight started her season with a career-best time in the 800 meters, finishing in 2:38.97 to place fourth out of 10 runners.

In the field events, junior Epephanie LaBoy qualified for the conference championship in the weight throw with a top toss of 10.19 meters. Sophomore Lauryn Johnson also competed in the event, posting a career-best mark of 7.75 meters.

First-year Leah Scopteuolo-Rosen cleared 1.43 meters in the high jump in her collegiate debut, and Johnson nabbed 37th in the shot put with a top mark of 8.07 meters.

The Garnet Chargers will take a few weeks off for winter break before returning to action on January 10 at the Middlebury Snowflake Invitational.