Sports

Women’s flag football coming to Division I school in California

Published

4 months ago

August 4, 2025

Another Division I school is pursuing the addition of women’s flag football.

In a letter to the campus community published on Friday, Cal Poly athletic director Don Oberhelman said the school could add women’s flag football as a varsity sport as early as 2027.

Cal Poly is the sixth Division I school at the NCAA level to announce its intentions of starting a women’s flag football team. The members of the Big West follow Alabama State, Long Island, Mercyhurst, Mount St. Mary’s, and UT Arlington.

Back in February, flag football made a significant stride in gaining ground in the college ranks when the NCAA recommended adding it to its Emerging Sports for Women program. Should flag football be granted status in the program at the 2026 NCAA convention, there could be a ways to go before fans see something like an NCAA Tournament for the sport.

Still, as flag football barrels toward its debut at the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, interest in it seems to be growing at the collegiate level.

Nebraska AD Troy Dannen said folks should keep “a close eye” on women’s flag football after hosting an exhibition contest at the Husker Games in April. Last month, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips told SB Nation the conference is “watching” what’s happening in flag football and the conference has had “a few preliminary conversations” about the sport.

On May 9, 2024, in an email obtained by SB Nation through an open records request, NCAA Senior Vice President Felicia Martin wrote to Division I athletic directors: “The combination of flag football’s Olympic recognition and its expanding popularity among youth and high school players has elevated its importance as one of NCAA President Charlie Baker’s top priorities for the Association.” The email included stats about the sport’s growth and links to videos and a learning portal.

In announcing the addition of flag football at Cal Poly, Oberhelman wrote that he hopes that being early on investing in the sport and building a program quickly will allow it to “embark on a legacy of success” similarly to how the Mustangs have performed in beach volleyball “which continues to pay dividends.” Beach volleyball is a sport that also grew from the NCAA’s Emerging Sports for Women program and now has championship status. The Mustangs have been to five NCAA Tournaments for beach volleyball and have advanced to the national semifinals in each of the past two years.

Cal Poly is also elevating its STUNT program from club status to a varsity sport.

“Both of these additions are part of the university’s long-term planning to increase opportunities for female student-athletes,” Oberhelman wrote. “This is particularly important as Cal Poly’s female student population has increased over the last 12 years from 42 percent of enrollment to 51 percent.”

While just a handful of Division I schools have added women’s football, many more have at the Division II and III levels.

This past season, the Division III America East held a full varsity season of women’s flag football capped off with a conference championship, becoming the first NCAA league to do so. Jacqie McWilliams-Parker — commissioner of the CIAA, the Division II HBCU conference — told SB Nation that she hopes to have flag football as a varsity sport in the league during the 2026-27 academic year.

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Panther volleyball honored with AVCA All-Region awards for 2025 season

Published

2 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its annual all-region selections on Tuesday morning with three Panthers earning All-Central Region recognition , while head coach Bobbi Petersen was named the region’s Coach of the Year.

Outside hitter Cassidy Hartman was named to the All-Region Team, while fellow outside hitter Lily Dykstra and defensive specialist/libero Jadyn Petersen earned honorable mention status. The trio helped lead the Panthers to a 26-6 record overall, 16-0 mark in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play and the program’s fourth consecutive MVC regular season and tournament titles, as well as a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This is Hartman’s second All-Region honor and the first for both Dykstra and Petersen.

UNI volleyball has produced 50 AVCA All-Region selections in program history, including 41 under Coach Petersen. This year also marks the sixth time in the last nine seasons, as well as the third year in a row the Panthers have had at least three all-region honorees (2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025).

CASSIDY HARTMAN – AVCA All-Region

The 2025 MVC Player of the Year and a First Team All-MVC selection, Hartman led the league with 4.64 kills per set, along with 2.74 digs per frame, 58 total blocks and 19 aces during her junior season. Starting all 32 matches during her junior season, Hartman recorded ten or more kills in 27 matches this season, as well as six matches with 20+ kills, including a career-high 26 terminations at Southern Illinois in the regular season. She also posted 14 double-double outings. A three-time MVC Player of the Week this season and a member of the Capital Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team back in September, Hartman earned AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention honors in 2024.

LILY DYKSTRA – AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention

A First Team All-MVC selection, Dykstra ranked second on the Panther roster with four kills per set, along with 1.7 digs per frame, 21 service aces and 50 total blocks. The junior from Urbandale, Iowa notably notched a career-high 25 kills in UNI’s NCAA Tournament opener against Utah, one of four matches this season with 20+ kills recorded. Dykstra tallied at least eight terminations in all but two matches in 2025, as well as 19 matches with ten or more kills and the first two double-doubles of her career. She was named the MVC Player of the Week on Nov. 10 and was named to the all-tournament teams for the Bluejay Invitational and Capital Credit Union Classic in September.

JADYN PETERSEN – AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention

After redshirting the 2024 season, Petersen led Northern Iowa’s backrow defense with 4.31 digs per set and a team-high 26 aces after earning Second Team All-MVC honors this year. She recorded a career-high four aces against Washington back in September and also posted 27 digs against UIC in November. A two-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week award winner, she also posted a .957 reception percentage on the year.

BOBBI PETERSEN – Region Coach of the Year

Completing her 26th season at the helm of the Panther program, Petersen picks up her fifth AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor after earning her record tenth MVC Coach of the Year honor in 2025. Petersen helped lead UNI to its 22nd season under her leadership with 20+ wins, her 13th MVC regular season and tournament championships and third straight undefeated conference season. Additionally, she passed former Panther softball coach Meredith Bakely with her 633rd career win during the MVC Tournament, becoming the winningest women’s coach in UNI history for any sport.

2025 AVCA ALL-CENTRAL REGION AWARDS

Player of the Year: Shaylee Myers (Kansas State)

Freshman of the Year: Jovanna Zelenovic (Kansas)

Coach of the Year: Bobbi Petersen (UNI)

2025 AVCA ALL-CENTRAL REGION FIRST TEAM

Caylen Alexander (Missouri)

Claire Ammeraal (Iowa)

Daedrianna Cail (Arkansas State)

Jill Hanson (Tulsa)

Cassidy Hartman (UNI)

Brayden Hipp (Tulsa)

Ava LeGrand (Kansas State)

Shaylee Myers (Kansas State)

Reese Ptacek (Kansas)

Jurnee Robinson (LSU)

Maya Sands (Missouri)

Alexis Shelton (Oklahoma)

Rachel Van Gorp (Iowa State)

Jovanna Zelenovic (Kansas)

2025 AVCA ALL-CENTRAL REGION HONORABLE MENTION

Tyrah Ariail (Missouri)

Morgan Brandt (Iowa State)

Kelli Jo Burgess (Oklahoma)

Lily Dykstra (UNI)

Kyra McKelvey (Southeastern Louisiana)

Jadyn Petersen (UNI)

Rhian Swanson (Kansas)

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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Three Volleyball Players Receive Academic All-District® Honors

Published

18 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Women’s Volleyball | 12/9/2025 12:02:00 PM

Granville, Ohio – Three members of the Denison volleyball team were named to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Volleyball Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators, to acknowledge the top student-athletes in the nation for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. Earning recognition for this year’s team were senior Alice Kempf, and juniors Claire Hamilton and Ayla Dunbar. This is Hamilton and Dunbar’s second time earning the honor, while this makes Kempf a three-time honoree.

Kempf, a Communication major, makes it three consecutive seasons earning the honor. The senior from Louisville, Kentucky, led the Big Red and was second in the conference in assists (771) and was third on the team in digs with 281. She had 13 double-doubles on the year, and also had 43 kills and 24 service aces to power through the team to a NCAC Tournament Semifinal appearance.

Hamilton, a Biology major, lands on Academic All-District® for the second-straight season. The junior from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania led the Big Red in kills with 291 and put up 2.88 points per set to help lead the Denison offense to first in the conference in total kills (1,295). She had 14 matches of double-digit kills and had 2.85 kills per set in 102 sets played.

Dunbar, a double major in Psychology and Health, Exercise and Sports Studies, joins Hamilton in earning Academic All-District® for the second consecutive season. The junior from Ann Arbor, Michigan was second on the Big Red in kills with 219 and had 2.69 points per set to help lead the Big Red offensive attack. Her 2.26 kills per set was ranked third on the team as well.

To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and must be a standout on the field, competing in at least 90 percent of their team’s games and starting at least 66 percent of their team’s games.

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Householder Earns All-Region Honorable Mention Recognition from AVCA

Published

35 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Youngstown, Ohio — Adding one more achievement to her historic career, Youngstown State’s Abbie Householder has become the third player in program history to earn All-Region accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The AVCA announced its All-Region honors on Tuesday, and Householder was named Honorable Mention in the Midwest Region. She joins Ruth Boscaljon, an Honorable Mention selection in 2009, and Paula Gursching, an All-Region honoree in 2022, as the only Penguins to be recognized by the AVCA.

Householder was the 2025 Horizon League Volleyball Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year as the conference’s leader with 4.22 kills and 4.73 points per set. She posted 502 kills, the third most in school history and the second most in the rally scoring era, and her 562.5 points were also the third-highest total ever by a Penguin. Householder also ranked seventh in the conference in aces per set, and she was 12th in digs per set.

Householder, an outside hitter from Canfield, Ohio, finished her career as YSU’s all-time leader in kills with 1,427, passing the previous mark of 1,408 that had stood since 1999. She also is the career record holder with 4,241 attempts, and she ranked third in digs, fourth in points and sixth in aces. Entering NCAA Tournament week, Householder was the only active Division I player with at least 1,400 career kills and 1,200 career digs.

Householder was joined on the All-Region Honorable Mention team by IU Indianapolis’ Grace Purichia as the only players from the Horizon League to be recognized by the AVCA. Householder was also one of just five players from Ohio on the list.

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How Gen Z is leading latest boom in distance running

Published

49 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 9, 2025, 6:02 a.m. ET

Distance running is experiencing a surge in popularity, particularly among Gen Z.
Athletes who under-fuel their bodies risk a condition called Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
Symptoms of REDs can include fatigue, hormonal problems, bone density loss, and decreased performance.

Distance running is having a moment — and it’s largely being led by Gen Zers, whose participation has been on the rise since the pandemic ended.

In recent years, we’ve seen high-profile celebrities such as Harry Styles, Colin Farrell, Kevin Hart, Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Connelly and Chelsea Clinton, among others, complete full marathons. In turn, races of all distances nationwide are seeing a dramatic spike in participation.

And that certainly goes for all of the events — 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon relay and full marathon — that will take place Dec. 13-14 in downtown West Palm Beach at the annual Palm Beaches Marathon weekend.

But back to Gen Zers: According to Road Runners Club of America “from 2021 to 2024, the percentage of finishers aged 20 to 29 have increased from 16.4% to 24.5% in the marathon, 17.1% to 26.2% in the half marathon, 13.9% to 20.6% in the 10K and 12.3% to 17.2% in the 5K.”

In addition, there’s been a marked increase in membership in running clubs across the nation.

As Runner’s World noted earlier this year, “Run clubs are replacing dating apps. Brands are tapping these groups for sampling and sponsorships. Celebs like Diplo and blink-182 drummer Travis Barker are starting their own run clubs. Around 7 percent of runners surveyed for Running USA’s annual report in 2023 stated that they were part of a running club. And Strava saw a 59 percent increase in new clubs in 2024, according to the tracking platform’s annual Year in Sport report, with Gen Z as the leading contributor to that growth.”

TikTok and Instagram are chock-full of fitness and beauty influencers documenting their training and race-day experiences — and their followers are taking note. This has led to more sneaker and apparel brands targeting their distance running gear to younger consumers, further fueling the rise in the sport’s participation rates.

Seeing so many young adults lean into becoming endurance athletes is certainly heartening — especially when you think about how beneficial this could be for decreasing the nation’s obesity rates.

That said, there are some aspects of becoming an endurance athlete that young folks — especially women — must stay vigilant about avoiding so as to ensure they can partake in their favorite road races for years and decades to come.

Dangers of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

We all know that proper nutrition — which includes sufficient caloric intake— is the foundation for undertaking any kind of athletic pursuit.

And this is especially true for endurance sports — running, cycling, swimming and the like.

But regardless of one’s age, gender or ability level, there’s a perpetual risk for endurance athletes to under-fuel their body’s basic caloric needs.

When that happens, the athlete becomes vulnerable to suffering from a syndrome known as “Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport” (REDs).

The term was introduced by the International Olympic Committee in 2014 and while it was originally coined to expand on an existing condition for elite competitors called “the female athlete triad” (which is comprised of irregular menstruation, loss of bone mass and disordered eating), in recent years experts have been stressing that REDs can affect anyone.

CNN explains that “Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) occurs when an athlete of any gender has overtrained and/or under-eaten for a prolonged period in an attempt to improve their performance, often without knowing the dangers of failing to compensate for the energy they expend in training and racing.”

The potential complications of suffering from REDs are myriad and they include the following:

Fatigue
Weight loss
Missed or irregular periods
Hormonal problems
Digestive problems
Bone density loss
Stress fractures
Repeated muscle or connective tissue injuries
Cold intolerance
Low sex drive
Frequent illness
Slow heart rate
Low blood pressure
Decreased athletic performance
Hair loss
Trouble focusing
Irritability
Depression
Anxiety

Identifying — and treating — root causes of REDs

Many athletes suffering from REDs may have other mental-health complications that contribute to the condition.

Body image issues and/or disordered eating habits are the most commonplace. It also happens frequently to folks who put intense pressure on themselves and/or are perfectionists.

In those instances, the athlete may benefit from being treated via a multidisciplinary approach that includes education and consultations with experts such as nutritionists, sports psychologists, sport-specific coaches, and/or sports medicine doctors.

Another potential factor perhaps contributing to recreational endurance athletes suffering from REDs is how many people nowadays are taking GLP-1 medications to control their weight.

Those on GLP-1 medications usually have decreased appetites as well as decreased overall interest in, and enjoyment of, food.

It’s easy to see how those on GLP-1 medications who become involved in an endurance sport may inadvertently end up suffering from REDs during their training.

For most recreational athletes who may be suffering from REDs, the condition can usually be rectified by a combination of eating a well-planned, nutrient-dense diet and incorporating more rest days into the training program. That’s where consultation with the nutritionists, coaches, and healthcare experts can be so beneficial.

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Chloe Leluge Earns 2025 AVCA All-Pacific Region Honorable Mention

Published

51 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ranking 2nd in the Big West and 36th in Division I with a .383 hitting percentage, Leluge has helped keep Cal Poly’s offense in the national top-20 for most of the season. The team currently sits 18th heading into the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, marking the program’s first return to this stage since 2007.

Even if her career ended today, Leluge’s .372 career hitting percentage would far outpace the current program leader in the Division I era by 17 points. Her current season rate also places her in the top-10 on the program’s single-season leaderboard. A true two-way middle blocker, Leluge co-leads the team and the conference this season with 130 total blocks.

Just a few weeks ago, Cal Poly upset top-seeded UC Davis to win the Big West title and secure an automatic NCAA bid. Leluge, who committed only one error on 57 attacks throughout the tournament, was named Big West Championship MVP and later to Michella Chester’s NCAA Rotation of the Week.

Since then, Leluge has been instrumental in helping the Mustangs topple ranked programs BYU and USC in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16. She helped stun the Cougars in the first round’s opening set, tallying six kills to kickstart Cal Poly’s tournament run, before recording a trio of block assists against USC, extending her multi-block streak to 13 matches.

As arguably one of the best all-around middle blockers in the country, Leluge has positioned herself to continue an already legendary career while helping propel Cal Poly to one of the single greatest seasons in program history.

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Cail Named to 2025 AVCA Central All-Region Team

Published

1 hour ago

December 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

JONESBORO, Ark. (12/9/25) – Arkansas State volleyball middle blocker Daedrianna Cail was named to the Division I Central All-Region First Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, as the organization announced its regional teams for the 2025 campaign on Tuesday.

Cail is the Red Wolves’ 10th AVCA All-Region selection in program history and the first to secure a spot on the first team since Mallory Warrington and Markie Schaedig achieved the feat in 2016.

The Marion native tallied a program-record 183 total blocks alongside 282 kills and a .355 attack percentage over 31 matches and 119 sets played. The All-Sun Belt Conference First Team selection ranks second nationally for total blocks and fifth for blocks per set, averaging 1.54.

Cail posted five-plus blocks in 18 matches and registered a career high of 15 to lead A-State past Texas State in a 3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10) victory in the Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament semifinals. In addition, the senior landed double-digit kills in 14 matches, including a season and career high of 19 at Georgia State on Sept. 26.

Cail was named Sun Belt Volleyball Tournament Most Outstanding Player following the Scarlet and Black’s victory over James Madison in the championship round.

Following the all-region selection, Cail is eligible for AVCA All-America consideration. All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans can follow the team on Twitter (@AStateVB) and Instagram (astatevb) along with liking the Arkansas State Red Wolves Volleyball page on Facebook for the latest news and updates regarding the team.

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