Sports

Volleyball Gears Up for Three-Match Week

Published

2 months ago

October 28, 2025

Volleyball vs. CMU/at Akron
Dates/Times	Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. \| Friday, Oct. 31, 6 p.m. \| Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.
Venue	George Gervin GameAbove Center, Ypsilanti, Mich. \| James A. Rhodes Arena, Akron, Ohio
Preview Info	EMU Notes (PDF) \| Media Guide
Watch Live	All Games
Twitter	@EMUVolleyball \| @EMUAthletics
Instagram	@emu_volleyball \| @emuathletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — With seven regular-season matches remaining, the Eastern Michigan University volleyball team will host Central Michigan University Tuesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m., at the George Gervin GameAbove Center. The Eagles will then head to Ohio for two matches against the University of Akron Zips Friday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1. Friday’s match will start at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s will begin at 4 p.m. from the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.

Admission is free and fans can follow along with the action using the live stats and watch links that can be found on the EMU volleyball schedule page at emueagles.com/volleyball/schedule. Fans can also follow the team’s social media accounts on X, Instagram, and Facebook @EMUVolleyball for live in-match updates. A post-match recap will also be posted to EMUEagles.com following the game.

ALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS

Central Michigan: The Eagles and Chippewas will meet for the 103rd time in the all-time series and the second time this season Tuesday. Overall, Eastern holds a 31-71 record against Central Michigan and a 15-37 mark when facing it in Ypsilanti. Eastern has not beaten Central since the 2020 season when it edged the Chippewas in five sets in Mt. Pleasant, March 16, 2021, as CMU has won the previous 10 games in the series, the longest streak since it won the first 23 games in the series, 1976-85.

Akron: The Eagles and Zips will meet for the 48th and 49th times Friday and Saturday. Overall, Eastern holds a 22-25 all-time record against Akron and a 9-12 mark when facing it in Akron. The Eagles were swept by the Zips in both matchups last season, Nov. 8-9. The last time the Eagles won a match against the Zips came in the 2022 campaign when they beat them in five sets in Akron, Oct. 29, as Eastern is 6-4 against the Zips on the road in the last 10 matchups in Akron. Head Coach Kevin Foeman is in search of his first win over the Zips at Eastern as the Eagles hold a 6-4 record in the series’ last ten contests.

LAST TIME AGAINST CMU

Eastern was swept by the Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, Oct. 7. The last time EMU faced CMU at home came Nov. 5, 2024, a 3-1 win for CMU. The match marked just the second time in EMU volleyball’s 50-year history that the team played on a presidential election night. Eastern previously played on election night in 1984 when they bested the Michigan Wolverines in five sets in Ann Arbor, Nov. 6, the night that America re-elected its 40th President, Ronald Reagan.

LAST TIME ON THE ROAD AGAINST AKRON

Eastern last traveled to Akron in the 2023 season, Oct. 5, a match that resulted in a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles.

EMU BLOCK PARTY

The Eagles’ 17.0 total blocks In the win over Buffalo, Oct. 24, match the team’s season high, set against Valparaiso, Sept. 5. The 17 blocks equal the highest mark in one match among MAC teams this season. Eastern is one of 19 schools in the nation, and the only school in the MAC, to have multiple matches with at least 17 blocks this season.

AVA SIEFKE 10+ KILLS GAMES

Ava Siefke is up to 19 double-digit kill outings, ranking second in the MAC this season. The figure stands as the most in the program since Callie Minshew notched 23 in the 2023 season.

SIEFKE 10+ KILLS STREAK

Ava Siefke recorded 10+ kills in the first 14 matches this season, the longest stretch in her career and longest from the program since all-time kills leader Rachel Iaquaniello ended her collegiate career with 19-straight matches of 10+ kills, Sept. 14-Nov. 16, 2012, in a year where she set the program record in single-season kills (554).

SIEFKE 20+ KILLS

Ava Siefke recently notched her third 20+ kill game of the season at Ohio, Oct. 16, ranking second in the MAC. She drilled 20 kills off a .238 hitting percentage against the Bobcats, the best hitting percentage in her career when totaling 60+ attacks as she matched a career-best with 63 attacks, the most from an Eagle in a single game in 2025.

BREAKOUT SEASON: AVA SIEFKE

Junior outside hitter Ava Siefke has seen a significant increase in production this season as she is currently averaging career highs in kills per set (3.46), attacks per set (10.49), aces per set (0.34), digs per set (2.54), blocks per set (0.52), and points per set (4.09).

Siefke in 2024

Kills/Set           Pts/Set              Hitt&   Attacks/set

1.73 2.24 .090     6.46

Siefke in 2025

Kills/Set           Pts/Set              Hitt% Attacks/set

3.46 4.09 .162     10.49

Siefke currently ranks fifth in the MAC in points per set (4.09) and kills per set (3.46), and slots ninth by value with 0.34 aces per set while leading the Eagles in both point per set and kills per set.

SIEFKE’S DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Ava Siefke‘s nine double-doubles rank fifth in the MAC and the most in the program since Callie Minshew recorded 10 in the 2023 season.

Eastern is 6-3 this season when she records a double-double as she has recorded consecutive double-doubles twice this season (vs. Marshall/Kansas City, Aug. 29-30), (vs. Southern Illinois/at Oakland, Sept. 12-13). She most recently posted a double-double with 12 kills and 18 digs in a five-set win over Buffalo, Oct. 24.

HISTORIC HITTING PERCENTAGES

Eastern hit .424 (41-5-85) in the sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4. The clip ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history. The Eagles followed that up with a .381 hitting percentage in the three-set win over Oakland, Sept. 19, a mark that stands ninth in program history and eighth in the MAC.

The 2025 season is the second in program history where the Eagles have recorded multiple program top-10 hitting percentages. It previously recorded four program top-10 marks in the 1999 campaign, including the second-best mark in program annals, a .594 clip against Chicago State, Sept. 3.

1/1: ASHLYNN BELCHER

Senior setter Ashlynn Belcher is the only player in the nation with 744+ assists, 15+ aces, and four or fewer service errors. She currently posts 744 assists, 15 aces, and just four service errors. Belcher is just the fourth NCAA player in the last six years to post that stat line or better since 2019.

BELCHER’S DOUBLE-DOUBLES

Ashlynn Belcher recently recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 10 digs at Ohio, Oct. 17. Her eight double-doubles are the sixth most in the conference as she notched three consecutive double-doubles for the third time in her career.

BELCHER ASSIST DEBUT

Ashlynn Belcher dished 48 assists against Radford, Aug. 29, and UMKC, Aug. 30, the most from an Eagle in their EMU debut since at least 2011. Her 48 dimes are the most from an Eagle overall since Elle McLoughlin dished 49 against Bradley University, Aug. 26, 2023. Her assists total is also the highest from an Eagle in the first game of the season since Kate Sulewski recorded 60 in a five-set win over Charlotte University, Aug. 24, 2007.

Belcher currently stands seventh in the MAC with a career-best 8.36 assists per set. Her 744 assists and 8.36 per set average are both the highest from an Eastern setter since Jayden Otto dished 1,092, posting 9.93 per set in the 2021 season.

1/1: HATTERAS WELKER

Sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker is the only player in the nation to post more than 110 blocks and 29 aces as she currently totals 111 blocks and 30 aces.

WELKER 11 BLOCKS PROGRAM STANDING

Hatteras Welker‘s 11 blocks against Valparaiso rank second in EMU program history in four-set matches while standing second in the MAC, first in a four-set match, and fifth in the nation in four stanzas. Additionally, she is the only player in the MAC to record 10+ blocks in multiple matches this season as she also did so with 11 at Butler, Sept. 20.

WELKER YEAR 2

After a MAC All-Freshmen team nod in 2024, Hatteras Welker earned Preseason All-MAC honors ahead of the 2025 season as she has substantially improved in key areas, averaging career bests in service aces per set (0.33), kills per set (1.86), and points per set (2.92).

Welker in 2024

Kills/Set                           Pts/Set

1.34 2.22

Welker in 2025

Kills/Set                           Pts/Set

1.86                      2.92

Welker’s 1.23 blocks per set rank second in the MAC and 65th nationally as her career-best 11 blocks against Valparaiso, Sept. 5, slot second in the MAC.

WELKER FROM THE SERVE LINE

Hatteras Welker has at least one ace in 19-of-24 matches this season. Her 19 matches with at least one ace are tied for the second-highest mark in the nation, are the most in the MAC, and are the most of any middle in the country. Welker ranks second on the team averaging 0.33 aces per set, an improvement from her 0.18 per set average in 2024.

STAR STRUCK

Senior outside hitter Bri Struck erupted for a career-best 16 kills in the second start of her NCAA Division I career. Struck entered the match with just 13 career kills as she bested her previous single-game career-high of three by 13. She also recorded the first block of her career, swatting five, and matched a career best with three digs.

AKC FRESHMAN 10+ KILL MATCHES

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen recorded her ninth 10+ kill match with 11 against Toledo, Oct. 4. Her nine double-digit kill matches are the fourth most among MAC freshmen.

The figure is the most from an EMU freshman since redshirt freshman Krista Blakely recorded 17 10+ kill matches in 2022 and the most from a true freshman since Annie Lockett had 10 in 2021. The last time a true freshman had more than 10 came in 2017 when Franki Strefling posted 12.

AK FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen had a career outing against Southern Illinois University, Sept. 12. The freshman recorded career bests with 20 kills off a .326 hitting percentage while adding five digs. Her 20+ kills while hitting over .300 are the first time an EMU player has done so since current overseas professional Raeven Chase landed 20 kills off a .536 clip in a match against Ohio University, Oct. 7, 2022. She is the only freshman in the MAC to post at least 20 kills while hitting .326 or better.

Christensen is just the third EMU freshman in the modern statistical era (1999-present) to accomplish the feat and the second outside hitter. Melissa Bartlett drilled 20 kills while hitting .500 as a freshman against Oakland University, Sept. 11.

AK FRESHMAN SINGLE-GAME KILLS

AshleeKay Christensen‘s 20 kills against SIU, Sept. 12, are the third most from a freshman in the MAC this season and most from an EMU freshman since Rachel Irbe landed 21 against the University at Buffalo, Oct. 22, 2016. Buffalo’s Emerson Matthews recorded a MAC freshman-high 25 against Ohio, Oct. 4, after Ohio’s Bailey Blair had a 23-kill outing against Furman, Sept. 20, ranking second in the MAC among freshmen.

CHRISTENSEN’S HISTORIC DEBUT

Freshman outside hitter AshleeKay Christensen‘s 18 kills in her NCAA debut against Radford, Aug. 29, are the most in program history in the modern statistical era for a collegiate debut. Christensen’s 15+ kill debut marked the fourth time an Eagles has done so in that time frame. The other three – Rachel Iaquaniello, Jordan Smith, and Cassie Haut all rank inside the program top-10 for career kills as Iaquaniello is the all-time leader with 1,949 from 2009-12.

SRINIVASAN CONSISTENCY

Junior libero Surabhi Srinivasan ranks seventh in the conference averaging a career-best 3.78 digs per set as she has tallied 10+ digs in 17-of-24 matches this season, the most productive stretch in her career. Her 24 digs in the season opener against Radford, Aug. 29 were previously a career high and the most from an Eagle in a season opener since Sierra Reed tallied 26 in a 3-2 win over the University of Hartford, Aug. 30, 2013. Srinivasan set a career-best with 27 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, bettering her previous personal-best (24) by three and marking the most from an Eagle since Kamryn Stilwell recorded 30 against Western Michigan, Sept. 23, 2021. She has gone over 20 digs four times this season, as EMU is 3-1 when she does so.

Srinivasan previously posted seven consecutive games with double-digit digs, Sept. 12-26, the longest streak of her tenure.

MAHLER’S EFFICIENT HITTING

Sophomore outside hitter Taeley Mahler has seen a significant increase in her hitting percentage from her freshman to sophomore season as she hit .188 last season and is currently hitting .219, a number that ranks first on the team for players with at least 450 attacks as she is taking on a increased workload, posting 5.36 attacks per set this season compared to 4.33 in 2024.

Through 24 matches, Mahler has posted four double-digit kill performances, besting the one she had last season (against Bowling Green, Oct. 10). She has also hit .250 or better in 13-of-24 (54%) matches this season after doing so in 6-of-18 (33%) in 2024.

GRASSON MOST ACES FROM EAGLE SINCE 2017

Senior Ella Grasson‘s career-best five aces in the sweep over Kent State, Oct. 9, are the most from an Eagle since Jordan Smith landed eight against Stoney Brook, Aug. 26, 2017. The total stands as the most in the conference in a three-set match while ranking second in single-game aces in all matches.

WASELEWSKY EMERGENCE

Freshman libero/defensive specialist Layna Waselewksy recorded a career-best 21 digs against Bowling Green, Oct. 3, the second most in the MAC among freshmen as Miami freshman Molly Creech previously posted 24. Waselewsky has hit her stride as of late, recording the first occurrence of consecutive double-digit digs games with 21 against BGSU, Oct. 3, before notching 18 the next day against Toledo, Oct. 4. The freshman has three games with over 15 digs, a figure that stands third in the MAC.

GUARD GEARING UP

Sophomore outside hitter Anna Guard has hit her stride as of late as she has recorded 8+ kills in four of her last six games, including a season-high 12 kills against Ohio, Oct. 16. Guard also landed 11 kills off a .375 hitting percentage in a win over Kent State, Oct. 9. She most recently drilled 10 in a win over Buffalo, Oct. 24.

BELCHER: MAC SETTER OF THE WEEK

Ashlynn Belcher was named Mid-American Conference Setter of the Week, Sept. 8.

Belcher dished a total of 137 assists (10.54/set) and heavily contributed to the team’s .254 hitting percentage throughout the week. The setter contributed defensively with 42 digs (3.23/set), and eight blocks (0.62/set). Belcher posted two assists/digs double-doubles, dishing 46 assists and recording 16 digs in the win over Valparaiso, Sept. 5, before notching 41 assists and 15 digs in a sweep against Niagara University, Sept. 6.

Belcher was particularly sharp against Purdue Fort Wayne, Sept. 4, as she set EMU to hit .424 as a team in the sweep over the Mastodons, a clip that ranks second in the MAC and sixth in program history.

WELKER: MAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hatteras Welker was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 8. Welker was on a tear defensively as she recorded 26 total blocks, averaging two per set in the Eagles’ perfect 3-0 weekend at the EMU Tournament, Sept. 4-6, and 3-1 week overall. On top of her blocks, Welker contributed with 28 kills (2.15 per set) and four aces (0.31/set), equaling 47.5 points (3.65 per set).

She particularly shined in the 3-1 win over Valparaiso University, Sept. 5, as she led the match with 11 blocks, the second-most in the MAC by an individual this season, most in a four-set contest, second-most in EMU history in a four-set game, and fifth most in the nation in four sets by volume.

MULTIPLE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Ashlynn Belcher and Hatteras Welker‘s respective MAC Player of the Week nods, Sept. 8, mark the programs first time earning multiple conference player of the week accolades in the same week since at least 2009.

CONSISTENT TRENDS

Eastern is 11-0 this season when hitting better than its opponent and 25-4 under Foeman when doing so. EMU has out-killed its foe in 12-of-24 games this season, producing a 11-1 record in 2025 and 21-3 overall mark in three seasons under Foeman. EMU is also a perfect 5-0 when hitting .250 or better this season, most recently doing so in a sweep of Kent State, Oct. 9, as Eastern hit .259.

HITTING BETTER THAN FOES

EMU has out-hit its opponent in 11-of-24 matches this season and did so in 7-of-10 (Aug. 29-Sept. 13) games for the first time since the 2018 season, Oct. 25-Nov. 18. That season, the Eagles out-hit their opponent in 27-of-35 games en route to a MAC Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

Overall, the Eagles are 11-0 this season when out-hitting their opponent and 25-4 in the Foeman era. They most recently out-hit the Buffalo Bulls, .182-.129, in a five-set win, Oct. 24.

GOING TO EXTRAS

Both Eastern and Western Michigan scored into the 30s in the second set in the MAC opener, Sept. 25, as Western won a tight third set, 33-31. The occurrence marked the first time EMU and its opponent scored into the 30s in the same set since it scored into the 30s again against Western Michigan in the 2021 MAC opener, as EMU won the first set, 32-30, Sept. 23.

RECENT CAREER-HIGHS

Bri Struck struck a career high 16 kills in the win over Buffalo, Oct. 24, while also setting career-best totals with five blocks and three digs. Wrigley Takats also swatted a career-best 10 blocks. Kaylin Schroeder made her first scratches in the stats book with 13 assists, two kills, and two digs against the Bulls, Oct. 24.

MOST ACES UNDER FOEMAN

Eastern landed 12 aces in the win over UMKC, Aug. 30, marking the most in the Foeman era (2023-present) and the most in a single game since it recorded 15 against Buffalo, Oct. 27, 2006. The total stands fourth in the program’s all-time single-game leaderboards.

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – TEAM

Eastern ranks in the top three in the MAC in four categories.

Stat                                      Figure MAC

Digs/set                                15.46 2nd

Attacks/set                       36.60 3rd

Opp Hit%                              .190     3rd

Blocks/set 2.32     3rd

Eastern ranks 39th in the country in attacks per set (36.60). By volume, it ranks ninth in the county in total attacks (3,367), 12th in the nation in team digs (1,422), 17th in team total blocks (213.0), 33rd in team kills (1,130), 35th in team assists (1,043), and 38th in team service aces (147).

Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – TEAM SINGLE GAME

Eastern ranks first in the MAC in two team single-game categories, and inside the top four in 10 total.

Stat                      Figure MAC     NAT’L

Blocks                17          1st         6th (In four sets)

Three-Set Aces 11          1st         7th (In three sets)

Three-Set Assists 50          2nd       8th

Hit%                     .424     2nd       n/a

Four-Set Digs 91 2nd       5th (In four sets)

Four-Set Hit% .336     3rd        n/a

Four-Set Kills 66          3rd        9th

Five-Set Aces 12          3rd        6th (In five sets)

Three-Set Kills 51          4th        n/a

Three-Set Blocks 11          4th        n/a

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS- INDIVIDUAL

Eastern Michigan has three players that rank inside the conference top five in various per-set categories.

Name                 Stat      Figure MAC

H. Welker      Blks/Set 1.23     2nd

A. Siefke       Kills/Set 3.46     5th

A. Siefke Pts/Set 4.09     5th

In the national standings, Hatteras Welker slots eighth in total blocks (111). Ava Siefke slots 11th in total attacks (965), 26th in total points (376.0), and 42nd in total kills (318).

Additional MAC/National stats rankings can be found on page eight.

HIGH IN MAC/NAT’L RANKINGS – SINGLE GAME INDIV.

Name                 Stat      Figure MAC

E. Grasson       3-set Ace    5 1st

H. Welker Blocks 11          2nd

E. Grasson       Aces 5             2nd

A. Belcher         3-set Ast 41          3rd

S. Srinivasan 4-set Dig 27          3rd

H. Welker Aces 4             3rd

In the national standings by volume, Welker’s 11 blocks in a four-set match slot fifth, while Belcher’s 41 dimes in a three-set match are the 11th most. Grasson’s five aces tie for fifth in three-set matches.

MILESTONES

Ashlynn Belcher is 157 assists away from 2,000 in her career as she totals 1,843. Ella Voorhees sits 43 digs from 500, and 205 assists from 1,000. Ava Siefke is 25 aces away from the century mark.

UP NEXT

Eastern welcomes Ball State to the George Gervin GameAbove Center for its final two regular season home games Thursday-Friday, Nov. 6-7. Both games will start at 6 p.m. Admission is free and the matches can be streamed live on ESPN+.

FOLLOW US

Stay connected with the Eagles all season long by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on X for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball and @emuathletics.

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Lynchburg Clocks in at Fifth in ODAC Preseason Poll

Published

29 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Your Sports Nation

FOREST, Va. — The University of Lynchburg was selected fifth in the ODAC preseason poll for the 2026 campaign, as announced by the league office on Friday afternoon, Jan. 9.

Randolph-Macon earned all possible first-place votes to claim the top spot in the preseason poll. The reigning conference champions were followed by Roanoke, which finished nine points behind first place with 53 total points. Randolph College and Eastern Mennonite rounded out the top four with 42 and 38 points, respectively.

Lynchburg sits in the middle of the poll with 38 points, four behind Eastern Mennonite and three ahead of Virginia Wesleyan in sixth. Shenandoah, Bridgewater, and Averett complete the preseason rankings with 21, 15, and 10 points, respectively. Shenandoah and Bridgewater will each compete in their inaugural men’s volleyball season as the conference continues to expand.

The Hornets enter their second season of competition under first-year head coach Joshua Knapp. Lynchburg looks to build on a 9-15 (2-10 ODAC) record from a year ago. Knapp and his staff return 13 student-athletes, along with the addition of one freshman and two transfers.

The returning group is highlighted by two All-ODAC performers, opposite Nick Redding and middle Bryce Jackson. Redding earned ODAC Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-ODAC Second Team, while Jackson secured a spot on the All-ODAC Third Team.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

Randolph-Macon College (8) 64 pts.

Roanoke College (1) 53 pts.

Randolph College 46 pts.

Eastern Mennonite University 42 pts.

University of Lynchburg 38 pts.

Virginia Wesleyan University 35 pts.

Shenandoah University 21 pts.

Bridgewater College 15 pts.

9. Averett University 10 pts.
\

Visit Lynchburg athletics’ home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

Give Lynchburg Athletics a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg Athletics on Instagram and X.

–LYN–

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Olympic volleyball star Larson to retire after this season

Published

45 minutes ago

January 10, 2026

Your Sports Nation

OMAHA, Neb. — Four-time Olympic medalist and volleyball star Jordan Larson said Friday that this season will be her last on the court as a professional athlete.

The 39-year-old Larson is a co-owner and player for LOVB Nebraska, one of six founding members of League One Volleyball, which is in its second professional season. Nebraska plays its home opener Sunday, and the season finale is April 4.

“I still love the game immensely,” Jordan said. “As I’ve gotten older, there’s more pieces that come with it. I’m living on house money, every day is an absolute blessing. … It seems like the time to celebrate what volleyball is doing in the state and how we can continue to grow the sport.”

Larson, a native of Hooper, Nebraska, was captain of the U.S. National team that won its first Olympic gold medal in 2021. She was the MVP and best outside hitter in Tokyo, and her kill clinched the gold medal match.

She is one of three volleyball athletes in history with four Olympic medals, including silver medals in 2012 and 2024, and a bronze in 2016. She played four seasons at the University of Nebraska, where she was part of a Division I national championship in 2006 after being the runner-up in 2005.

League One Volleyball, branded as LOVB and pronounced “LOVE,” made its debut last year after securing more than $100 million in funding from private equity and individuals, including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and NBA star Kevin Durant.

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Cal State Bakersfield Names Brandon Row Associate Head Coach of Volleyball

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Bakersfield, Calif. — Cal State Bakersfield has announced Brandon Row as Associate Head Coach for the Roadrunners women’s volleyball program, continuing his partnership with Head Coach Kristen Wright as she leads the program at CSUB.
Row brings more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience to Bakersfield, including seven years at the NCAA Division I level, four years at the NCAA Division II level, and one year national team experience. His background includes recruiting coordinator, full program operations, and on-court technical development.

Most recently, Row served as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of North Florida, where he was named recruiting coordinator during the 2024 offseason and helped assemble the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history. In 2023, he was recognized nationally as one of the sport’s rising coaches, earning a spot on the Volleyball Magazine College Coaching Hotshots Watchlist.

Row previously coached at Cal State Bakersfield from 2022–23 and also held coaching roles at the University of Georgia, the Women’s Canadian National Team, and Carson-Newman University. Across his NCAA Division I coaching career, he has helped develop multiple All-Americans, All-Conference honorees, conference award winners, and professional athletes.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Bakersfield and to continue my journey alongside Coach Wright,” Row said. “Her genuine care for people, high standards for culture, and relentless pursuit of excellence align with my coaching values, and I’m excited to see Bakersfield grow to the top of the Big West.”

“Bakersfield provides a comprehensive student-athlete experience – academic achievement, athletic excellence, and personal growth. The backbone of this experience is outstanding administration and the supportive Bakersfield community.”

“I’m grateful for the mentors and family who have supported me to this point. I’m confident Bakersfield is on a path to making history, and I’m honored to be part of the future. It’s great to be back in Bako!”

Wright highlighted Row’s impact and familiarity with the program.

“I’m elated to have Brandon join our staff as Associate Head Coach,” Wright said. “He’s a proven players coach and has an excellent balance of skills to help make a program great! It’s important to have everyone ‘Rowing in the Wright direction,’ and Brandon will help our program do just that! His work ethic is unmatched, and I am excited to continue what we’ve been doing together in a community I’m deeply proud of and in the Big West.”

For more information on Cal State Bakersfield women’s volleyball, including schedules, roster updates, and program news, visit GoRunners.com and follow the Roadrunners on social media.

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Garcia-Beltran Claims Program Record in Debut at Lions Indoor Invitational

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK, N.Y. – In just her first race as a member of the TCNJ women’s track and field squad, Lucia Garcia-Beltran took down a program record which had stood for 14 seasons. Her record-setting run highlighted TCNJ’s performance at the Lions Indoor Invitational on Friday.

ON THE TRACK

Lucia Garcia-Beltran posted a time of 7.63 in the 60m, breaking Miriam Khan’s previous program record set in 2011 (7.74). Garcia-Beltran’s time is also currently the fifth-best in Division III. Sarah Scepkowski ran the 60m before that race, finishing fifth with a time of 9.34—a new PR.

Kelly O’Grady claimed TCNJ’s second win of the day, logging a time of 1:16.62 in the 500m. Her time was over a second faster than the runner-up from Fordham. Kelsey Thomas posted a time of 41.75 in the 300m, while Mackenzie Burke logged a 42.10 in that same race. Burke’s time set herself a new PR. Cameron Ruffini and Breanna Casais both finished inside the top 10 in the 400m. Ruffini finished in 7^th (1:02.68) with Casais right behind in 8^th (1:03.14).

TCNJ’s distance runners also ran well, with Alex Grivas setting a new PR in the mile (5:24.99). Ava Biemuller logged the best overall finish among the group; she finished in 5^th with her PR time of 10:34.02.

IN THE FIELD

In addition to her top-5 finish in hurdles, Scepkowski finished in second place in the high jump, clearing 1.60m and recording a new PR in the process. That 1.60m-mark is top-20 in Division III. Lia Malave led the way in the long jump with her mark of 5.32m. Finally, Allison Lavin put a bow on the meet with her second-place efforts in both the shot put and weight throw (11.13m, 14.34).

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How A&M volleyball aims to sustain success – The Battalion

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

It’s impossible to think about women’s volleyball without thinking about Nebraska.

It’s not about the six national titles the Cornhuskers have, or their extensive list of All-Americans. It’s because of a volleyball culture developed over the decades that has tied itself to the very core of the state’s identity.

It’s top-tier investment from administration, fans and community that has led not just to the program’s on-court success, but to T-shirts boasting that Nebraska is “the volleyball state,” a match that was the second-highest attended women’s sporting event in the world and, crucially, a revenue-generating Cornhusker program.

Texas A&M volleyball head coach Jamie Morrison wants the Aggies to reach that level — and he doesn’t think it’s that far away.

“When I took the job … I had a checklist of things, and one of them was where I could build something that is similar to here, where people really, really care about the sport of volleyball,” Morrison said before the Aggies’ first NCAA Tournament match in Lincoln, Nebraska, earlier in 2025. “And for me, it was about getting the 12th Man to get addicted to the game that we love. And I think that’s happening right now. So it’s not even like building there. I think we’re almost there. I think there’s a demand for season tickets next season. Things are happening along those lines where it’s going to get to that level.”

Of course, Morrison and the Aggies are no strangers to reaching ambitious goals. This season, A&M won its first national championship in school history by defeating three 1-seeds in a row in one of the sport’s wildest NCAA Tournament runs to date, all in Morrison’s third year in Aggieland.

But, to take that next step and build the sort of revenue-generating program that will stand the test of time, it’ll require more than just wins on the court. It requires buy-in from administrators and fans alike.

CD 6798 Enhanced NR — Senior Oppsosite Hitter Logan Lednicky (9) and Sophomore Oppsosite Hitter Kyndal Stowers (37) celebrates in the confettti after Texas A&M’s National Championship game against Kentucky at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Cooper Daniels/The Battalion)

Administration support

Like many A&M coaches, Morrison — who was hired by former athletic director Ross Bjork before the latter left for Ohio State — felt uncertain about the school’s athletic director vacancy.

Then came a major stroke of good fortune when, out of all candidates, the Aggies landed on then-Nebraska AD Trev Alberts, the Cornhuskers’ athletic director for, among other events, 2023’s “Volleyball Day in Nebraska,” a two-match event at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium that featured an attendance of 92,003 — the world’s second-most attended women’s sporting event.

“When I got hired, I said, like, ‘I want to become the second program to be profitable in the United States, and I want to give back to the athletic department,’” Morrison said before the Aggies’ match against the Cornhuskers. “To have somebody that doesn’t scoff at that and be like, ‘That’s impossible,’ but someone that says, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s possible. Let’s get to work.’ I think that’s huge. And I think to have someone that knows what it can be and knows how to build it to that has been a huge asset for me.”

More than just having the experience of leading an athletic department that places an emphasis on volleyball, Alberts is a bonafide volleyball nerd.

“He loves watching the sport, and I think he’s probably been at 80% of our matches at home,” Morrison said. “He sits courtside and gets nervous and loves it and talks to me afterwards and knows the game enough to … be able to go back and forth and banter about the volleyball game. And I don’t think that’s the case at most schools, and I’m very, very thankful for it.”

Though that investment has to include the pocketbook. In the fiscal year 2024 — the college sports fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 — Nebraska topped all Division I public institutions with a women’s volleyball operating budget of $5,911,267. A&M was seventh on that list with a budget of $3,747,561, according to data access via public records requests and published by Extra Points’ Matt Brown.

That does not include things like compensation earned via NIL or from revenue sharing with athletes. But the Aggies have confirmed that volleyball is one of the six programs that A&M is sharing revenue with athletes in.

Both Morrison and Alberts seem aligned with a growth mindset that A&M can be one of those few revenue-generating programs that turns into a profit for the athletic department. And they aren’t afraid to use Nebraska as the template.

“I brought a lot of people from our administration [to Lincoln] last year just to understand that this is possible,” Morrison said. “That having, I don’t know, a revenue-generating volleyball program that is adding to the athletic department, is possible. And I think we’re on our way there.”

But as part of that investment, there has to be another variable that continues to grow: fan buy-in.

RocioS VOLvs.TCU — People in the Texas A&M student section react to a block during Texas A&M’s volleyball game against TCU at Reed Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Rocio Salgado/The Battalion)

Fan support

When one walks into Nebraska’s Bob Devaney Sports Center, there’s a palpable weight that seems to fill the arena.

It’s a feeling of hype, of expectation, a sense that this place is the peak of the sport. It’s a tangible feeling that represents everything Nebraska volleyball stands for, and the white whale that every program trying to reach the Cornhuskers’ level is chasing.

During a match, that expectation turns into a roaring reality, like the jam-packed crowd that the Aggies had to face to beat the Cornhuskers in five sets to advance to the 2025 Final Four in Kansas City.

“At one point, I felt like I could barely hear myself think with how loud it was ringing in my ears when we went 30,” senior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky said after A&M’s win over Nebraska.

Morrison and the rest of his staff has been using the atmosphere that the Aggies had to overcome as a model for what they’d like Reed Arena to look like.

“I have a lot of respect for this volleyball program, for the team that is here, for the atmosphere that happens around here, in the community around this area and how much they love the game of volleyball,” Morrison said. “And when I was choosing the place I was going to go to build a program to build. … A lot of it was based on, I wanted to build an audience similar to this. So to hear that that was that active back at home, I guarantee our attendance is going to go up next year, and again, we have some of the best fans in the country, but I’m proud that we’re well on the way to developing something that’s similar to what they have here at Nebraska.”

In a literal sense, the 12th Man has been buying in. In 2025 the Aggies set a program record for season tickets sold, and after winning a national title, nobody will be surprised to see that number skyrocket next year.

The Aggies’ student section and overall attendance have been reaching new heights, too. A&M set a program record with 9,801 fans attending its five-set win over Texas on Oct. 31, 2025.

“To see how far it’s come, it’s just really awesome,” senior libero Ava Underwood said after the Aggies’ final match at Reed Arena, a 3-1 NCAA Tournament win over TCU. “It’s been a dream. I mean, the fact that we get to play in front of those fans every single day is great. And we knew it was gonna come to an end, but the 12th Man showed up, as they always do, and this place is becoming a volleyball powerhouse.”

Now, the trick is to make things sustainable. Nebraska has been able to reach the heights it has because it’s continued winning on the court, yes, but also because its athletic department and fans have remained invested in the program even when it’s not winning national titles, with its last coming in 2017.

Morrison has said publicly that winning a national championship every year cannot become an expectation — the sport just isn’t built that way. And as the defending national champions replace nine departing seniors and return just two starters, A&M is in for a rebuild year.

But as long as the trifecta of continued investment, fan engagement and support paired with consistent on-court success remains, there’s no reason that the Aggies can’t accomplish all of the goals Morrison and his staff have set for the future.

“I came here not only to be good in one year,” Morrison said after the match against TCU. “I came only not to entertain this crowd … once this season and have them disappear, I came here to have sustained success. And I think that’s possible at this university. It’s possible because of the fan base, because of the 12th Man, the way people show up, people want to come play in front of people where this matters. I think this administration is supporting our program and women’s athletics, and I think we’re going to be a formidable force for years to come.”

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Sports

Rychkov Claims Another Program Record at Lions Indoor Invitational

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Maxim Rychkov took down yet another program record to headline the Lions Indoor Invitational for TCNJ’s men’s track and field squad.

ON THE TRACK

Rychkov’s new record came in the 400m, where he won the race with a rapid time of 47.95. That time, which shaves about half of a second off the previous record of 48.57, is 6^th-best in Division III and 23^rd-best across all three divisions. Noah Traverso finished in second behind Rychkov in that race, posting a time of 49.03. His time is currently the 16^th-fastest in Division III and also an NCAA top-100 mark.

Jayvee Dumas recorded a new PR in the 60m hurdles, finishing in 5^th place with a time of 8.54.

Tyler Seaton and Zach Salib both logged PR times en route to top-10 finishes in the 200m. Seaton finished in 6^th (22.85) and Salib finished in 9^th (23.07). Brody Dillich finished in under two minutes in the 800m, placing 6^th with a time of 1:59.17. Victor Akinboboye posted an impressive time of 35.54 in the 300m. His time was 18^th-best in Division III. Anthony Senatore was the first Lion across the line in the 500m; he finished 7^th in 1:06.36.

Building off of a championship season, TCNJ’s cross country runners shined in the long-distance events. Brandon Chen (3^rd, 8:38.71), Phil Pace (4^th, 8:38.76), Kevin Matthews (7^th, 8:46.61), Josh Santiago (10^th, 8:50.29), Evan Melito (11^th, 8:52.87), and Anthony Guarino (15^th, 9:07.72), all recorded DIII top-100 times in the 3000m. In the mile, Ryan Segalla led the with a 10^th-place finish (4:28.13).

IN THE FIELD

Jayvee Dumas headlined the action in the field for TCNJ with his 3^rd-place finish in the pole vault (4.55m). With his performance, Jayvee set the new 22^nd-best mark in Division III.
Tyler Meier was the best Lion in the high jump (9^th, 1.80m), while Ryan Donnelly (9^th, 6.34m) and Juan Alino (10^th, 6.14m) were the best TCNJ athletes in the long jump.

Finally, Braden Paulmenn and Christian Farhat logged a pair of top-5 finishes in the shot put and weight throw. In the shot put, Paulmenn finished in 3^rd with a mark of 15.38m, while Farhat finished in 4^th with a mark of 14.41. The two finished in 4^th and 5^th respectively in the weight throw; Paulmenn logged a 13.98 and Farhat logged a 13.64m.