DURHAM, N.C. – Duke volleyball is set to compete in the inaugural “Showdown at the Net” tournament at Mississippi State inside the Newell-Grisson Building on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Starkville, Miss., as announced by ESPN Events. The match will be streamed on SECN+. 

 

The tournament is set to take place from Sept. 9 though the 10th. It features 16 ACC schools and 16 SEC schools. ESPN will host one neutral site matchup, featuring two ACC and SEC schools, while all other matches will be played at ACC or SEC schools’ locations. 

 

The matchup between Duke and Mississippi State marks the second time the teams will meet, with the Blue Devils’ owning the 1-0 series history. The last time the two teams matched up was in 1984, where Duke earned the 3-0 sweep.  

 

‘Showdown at the Net’ Schedule

Tuesday, September 9

Boston College at Arkansas SECN+

Virginia at Auburn SECN+

Florida at North Carolina ACCN

Georgia at Clemson ACCNX

LSU at Notre Dame ACCNX

Stanford at Missouri ESPN

Georgia Tech at Tennessee SECN

Texas A&M at SMU ESPN2

 

Wednesday, September 10

Wake Forest at Alabama SECN+

Kentucky vs Pitt (at Dickies Arena) ESPN

Ole Miss at Miami ACCNX

Duke at Mississippi State SECN+

Florida State at Oklahoma SECN

South Carolina at NC State ACCN

Louisville vs Texas (at Dickies Arena) ESPN

Vanderbilt at Cal ACCNX

 

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by searching for “DukeVB”. 

 

#GoDuke

 

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had Olympic aspirations in another sport long before it was announced that flag football would make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“I didn’t play like a normal volleyball player,” he said. “I guess you could say I was kind of dangerous out there.”

McMillan was a star volleyball player at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif., where he tied the school record for most kills in a match. He was recruited by UCLA, USC and Stanford to play both football and volleyball collegiately before ultimately deciding to leave the state and focus on just playing football at the University of Arizona.

His high school volleyball coach, Matt Marrujo, even told Panthers.com that McMillan “had a shot” at competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic volleyball team “if he had really focused on volleyball.”

“He’s just being generous,” McMillan said. “But who knows what could have been.”

The 6-foot-4 McMillan brought physicality from the football field to the volleyball court.

“I always swung as hard as I can,” McMillan said. “I feel like some people were spooked and scared to play me and block me at times.

“There’s a few people that I definitely hit in the face and I believe I broke [an opponent’s] hand before, I’m pretty sure.”

Conversely, McMillan credits his volleyball experience for making him a better football player.

“It’s all about timing,” he said. “Being able to time the ball at the highest point, being able to be a pogo stick bouncing off the ground as quick as possible.

“It’s not easy. People think volleyball is easy and it’s for girls, but it is not easy. It’ll humble you real quick.”

For now, with his volleyball playing career on pause, McMillan’s best shot at competing at an Olympics is in flag football. The competition will be held at BMO Stadium, just 30 miles from where he went to high school.

“That would be a real dope moment,” he said. “It’s something I can see myself doing in the future. But first I’ve got to make some plays on the football field and try to make a name for myself and maybe they’ll come recruit me for the flag football.”

When asked who he would want to quarterback Team USA, McMillan picked his starting quarterback with the Panthers, Bryce Young, although NFL conditions state that no more than one player per NFL team can represent each country. He also identified a pair of defensive players as intriguing prospects.

“They might grab Myles Garrett or somebody like that or Micah Parsons to go out there and just be freakishly athletic,” McMillan said in an interview on behalf of Sharpie, the pen he used to sign his NFL rookie contract. “But I’m fortunate enough to be a skill player, so I’ve got a higher percentage of being picked.”

If McMillan ever does decide to return to volleyball, there is precedent for a professional athlete switching sports to play at the Olympic level. Chase Budinger played beach volleyball at the 2024 Paris Games after seven seasons in the NBA.

But don’t expect to see McMillan competing on the sand.

“I chose to play an outdoor sport, which is football,” McMillan said, “so everything else I do is always going to be inside in the AC.”

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. – The Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) today announced its 2024-25 ACWPC All-America Team. Among the honorees is Gannon’s Jade Strickland (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill). The senior was accorded honorable mention All-American honors for the second time.

A native of Santa Ana, Calif., Strickland was previously named a 2025 WWPA All-Conference first team honoree, adding to her numerous career accolades. Strickland also earned ACWPC honorable mention All-American honors as a sophomore. She is a three-time All-WWPA honoree after earning first team honors in 2023 and 2025 and second team a year ago. She was named to the All-Freshman Team in 2022 and has now been named to the All-Defensive Team the last two years.

Strickland finished as Gannon’s leading scorer for the third straight season with 50 goals and 21 assists for 71 points. In addition she led the team in steals with 30 and is second in defensive exclusions (19).

A year ago she finished with 43 goals and 21 assists for 64 points. She enjoyed her best season as a sophomore with 56 goals and 31 assists for 87 points after totaling 64 points as a freshman (37 goals, 27 assists).

Strickland climbed to eighth in career goals with 186 and fifth in career assists with exactly 100.

FAIRBANKS – The University of Alaska Fairbanks has announced a five-year contract extension for Alaska Nanooks volleyball head coach Brian Scott, reaffirming the program’s commitment to long-term growth and competitive excellence under his leadership.

Scott, who recently concluded his 10th season at the helm, guided the Nanooks to a historic 2024 campaign, finishing with a 21-7 overall record and a 13-5 mark in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. The 21 wins tied the program record for most victories in a single season and set a new benchmark for the highest winning percentage in Alaska Nanooks volleyball history. The team’s performance secured a second-place finish in the GNAC standings — the highest under Scott’s tenure.

“Today is an exciting day for the University of Alaska and the Alaska Nanooks volleyball program as we announce the five-year contract extension for head coach Brian Scott,” said Dr. Brock Anundson, Director of Athletics. “Brian is an exceptional coach and a proven leader who has built a strong foundation for our student-athletes both on and off the court. Under his leadership, the program has produced All-Americans, consistently broken program records, and elevated its level of play each season, earning well-deserved respect within the GNAC and across the NCAA. With Brian at the helm, I’m confident we’ll continue to elevate Nanooks volleyball and strengthen the culture of excellence we’re committed to here at UAF and in Fairbanks. He is also a trusted mentor and collaborative teammate within our department, across the university, and throughout the state. I look forward to the continued success ahead.”

Since joining the Nanooks, Scott has amassed a 116-143 (.448) career record, including a 71-49 mark over the last four seasons. The 2024 campaign marked his fourth winning season and continued a trend of sustained success and player development that has made Alaska a formidable presence in the GNAC.

“It has been very rewarding to see the program grow and become more competitive each year I’ve been in Fairbanks,” said head coach Brian Scott. “The athletes and coaches that have come through the program, UAF, and the community have truly made this home for our family. I am excited to continue working with our great athletes, coaches, and staff and am certain that together we will take this program to new heights in the years to come.”

As the Nanooks look ahead to the 2025 season and beyond, Scott’s extension signals a strong commitment to the trajectory of the program, both competitively and culturally. With a talented returning roster and renewed energy, the Nanooks are poised to keep climbing.

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