The562’s coverage of Long Beach State athletics for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Marilyn Bohl.
Long Beach State men’s volleyball fans got their first look at the defending national champions on Friday, as the Beach hosted their annual North American Challenge with the first of two pairs of matchups against Alberta and Calgary. First-year head coach Nick MacRae used the games as an opportunity to get everyone involved, as the Beach defeated Alberta 3-1 in the afternoon before sweeping Calgary 25-10, 25-14, 25-23.
“This is a big-time jump start for our season with bringing down Calgary and Alberta [from Canada],” MacRae said. “We have a great relationship with both teams, and they’re going to help challenge us and give us a lot of lessons to learn as a staff and a team. You saw two different matchups today with two different lineups, and a lot of guys going through growth while always trying to flex our Long Beach brand.”
The second lineup against Calgary featured a handful of familiar returning starters from last year, including senior star Skyler Varga, who was deemed Player of the Game and led the match with 13 kills on an efficient .500 hitting. Alex Kandev and Daniil Hershtynovich each chipped in seven kills apiece, as the Beach hit a collective .431 on the night.
The two matchups also provided an opportunity for fans to get a look at a couple of standout freshmen, including Long Beach native and 6-foot-10 middle Jackson Cryst, who was in on four blocks against Calgary. Earlier in the day, freshman Wojciech Gajek won Player of the Game with a 16-kill performance against Alberta, while freshman Myles Jordan also had a solid debut with six kills.
The Beach will be back in action on Sunday with another double header, taking on Calgary at 10am before facing Alberta at 5:30pm.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Tread Rosenthal and Trevell Jordan were up for a block against NJIT Highlanders Andrew Fedmasu during an NCAA mens’ volleyball game on Friday.
The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team scored the first five points and never looked back in its season-opening sweep of the New Jersey Institute of Technology tonight.
UH never trailed in a 25-11, 25-16, 25-14 romp before a boisterous turnstile crowd of 5,685 at Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
It was evident from the start that the Highlanders were not at the level of the Rainbow Warriors, who are ranked No. 2 nationally in the coaches preseason poll.
The opening salvo displayed just part of the Warriors’ wide array of weaponry. It started with Adrien Roure and Kristian Titriyski kills, followed by Tread Rosenthal’s first ace, a block by Justin Todd and Titriyski and then Rosenthal’s second of his team-high three aces.
After NJIT settled down a little, UH middle Trevell Jordan got into rhythm with his first kill, followed immediately by a combo block with Rosenthal, putting Hawaii ahead 9-3.
Titriyski led UH with 12 kills, including four in the first set. He also had two aces.
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Hawaii hit .517 to .045 for the visitors.
UH’s setter, Rosenthal, also led the block party, in on eight of his team’s 13.5. NJIT had no blocks. The Warriors had 10 in the first set alone.
Andre Aleixo led NJIT with 10 kills.
The Highlanders kept it close with three ties to start the third set, but then the Warriors strung together one of Roure’s eight kills with two blocks by Finn Kearney and Ofeck Hazan go ahead 6-3.
This was the first of eight home matches to start the season for UH.
The same teams meet Sunday, with first serve at 5 p.m. The Warriors will receive their 2025 Big West championship rings after the match.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ten BYU football players received Phil Steele postseason honors today, including five who were named All-American among 10 who received Big 12 All-Conference recognition.
All-American honorees include safety Faletau Satuala, who was named second team, and running back LJ Martin, who was a third-team selection. In addition, linebacker Jack Kelly, center Bruce Mitchell and safety Tanner Wall received honorable mention honors.
SATUALA, a 6-4, 210-pound sophomore from Bountiful, Utah, was previously named second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. He played in all 14 games for No. 12-ranked BYU, leading the Cougars in tackles (84) and forced fumbles (2) and was third on the team in interceptions (3) and tackles for loss (7.5). He was also previously named All-Big 12 First Team by Sports Info Solutions and All-Big 12 Third Team by the conference coaches.
MARTIN was previously named second-team All-American by Pro Football Network as well as Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first team Big 12 by the conference coaches. In addition, he was named first-team All-Big 12 by both Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from El Paso, Texas, led the Big 12 in yards rushing (1,305), yards per game (100.4) and all-purpose yards (1,560). He was also second in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (12).
KELLY was previously honored by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Big 12 and received honorable mention honors as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-2, 240-pound senior captain from Kearns, Utah, finished the regular season third in the Big 12 in sacks (10), fourth in tackles for loss (13.5) and tied for fifth in forced fumbles (2). He was also previously named to the Pro Football Network All-Big 12 Third Team.
MITCHELL was also honored by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Big 12 and honorable-mention Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also named Pro Football Network first team All-Big 12 and to the 2025 Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Football Team. The 6-4, 305-pound junior from Kearns, Utah, was on the midseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy and was the sixth-highest graded center in the country during the regular season by PFF. He was also twice named to the PFF National Team of the Week at center.
WALL, a two-year captain, helped lead BYU to a 25-4 record as the starting safety. He was previously honored as first-team All-Big 12 by the conference coaches. The 6-1, 205-pound senior from Arlington, Virginia, finished the year second on the team in tackles (71) and interceptions (4). In September, Wall was named to the prestigious 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team by the American Football Coaches Association. He was also a finalist for both the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and the Pop Warner College Football Award and was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
PHIL STEELE BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE Phil Steel first team Big 12 All-Conference selections included Kelly, Martin, Mitchell, Satuala and punt returner Parker Kingston, who was also named second-team All-Conference at wide receiver. Wall was also named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
Third-team honorees included long snapper Garrison Grimes and defensive tackle John Taumoepeau, while fourth-team selections included linebacker Isaiah Glasker and cornerback Evan Johnson.
First Team – LJ Martin (running back) – Bruce Mitchell (center) – Jack Kelly (linebacker) – Faletau Satuala (safety) – Parker Kingston (punt returner) Second Team – Parker Kingston (receiver) – Tanner Wall (safety) Third Team – John Taumoepeau (defensive tackle) – Garrison Grimes (long snapper) Fourth Team – Isaiah Glasker (linebacker) – Evan Johnson (cornerback)
The top high school volleyball players in the state regardless of class are featured in the AL.com Super All-State team.
The team was compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.
AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Setter MVP, Defensive MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered part of the Super All-State team.
AL.COM SUPER ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Players listed alphabetically)
Ava Bartlett, Addison, 5-11, Jr., Middle
Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s, 5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
Kendall Buckley, Bob Jones, 6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter
Millie Burgess, Vestavia Hills, 6-1, Sr., Outside Hitter
Mary George Vandergriff, Guntersville, 5-8, Sr., Setter
Elise Wheeler, Pleasant Valley, 5-9, Jr., Setter
Bea Wiggins, Spain Park, 5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
McGill-Toolen’s Alice Wood sets the ball during a 2025 match. (Erin Nelson Sweeney)Erin Nelson Sweeney
Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Jr., Setter
ATTACKER MVP
Daphne’s Ella Lomax attacks during a 2025 match. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Ella Lomax, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
DEFENSIVE MVP
Thompson’s Kenzly Foote readies for play against McGill-Toolen during the AHSAA Class 7A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Kenzly Foote, Thompson
5-7, Sr., Defensive Specialist
SETTER MVP
Spanish Fort’s Cailyn Boykin sets the ball against Hazel Green during the AHSAA Class 6A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort
5-8, Jr., Setter
COACH OF THE YEAR
Cherokee County coach Tiffany Rieger walks to receive the trophy during the AHSAA Class 4A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M volleyball’s Maddie Waak signed her first professional contract with Major League Volleyball’s (MLV) Atlanta Vibe, the organization announced Saturday.
Coming off the Aggies first NCAA national title, Waak was signed to Atlanta’s roster ahead of the 2026 MLV season. The setter directed the Maroon & White’s explosive offense, as she paced the nation in assists per set at 11.50 and ranked third in overall assists with 1,357 which earned her AVCA Third Team All-America honors.
“I’m so proud of Maddie [Waak] and can’t wait to watch the start of her pro career,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “It’s been a goal of ours since I joined the program to help players reach the next level of the game following college, and I know Maddie will do incredible things in Atlanta. She has developed into an elite setter and all-round player and will thrive in the MLV.”
The Katy, Texas, native orchestrated the most efficient offense in Texas A&M history, as the group hit at .297 percent as a unit which was a program record. Her 1,357 assists and 11.50 dimes per set both rank as rally-scoring records, while she became the first Aggie since 2019 to log back-to-back 1,000 assist seasons. Waak’s consistency was on full display throughout the 2025 campaign, as she eclipsed 40 assists 19 times, 50 assists six times and set her career high of 63 versus Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
Her versatility is what separated her from other setters in the country, as she set single-season career highs in all facets of the game. Offensively she recorded 59 kills and 34 aces, while on the defensive end she registered 238 digs and 50 blocks.
Waak’s impressive performances with the Aggies earned her a plethora of honors to go with her All-America nod, including becoming an All-Region selection, All-SEC First Team member, NCAA Lincoln Regional All-Tournament Team pick and five-time SEC Setter of the Week.
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