Sports

Women's Tennis Racks Up 14 Selections on All

Published

8 months ago

April 29, 2025

Women's Tennis Racks Up 14 Selections on All

MIAMI — FIU’s women’s tennis program was honored with a haul of postseason awards from Conference USA (CUSA), as announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The Panthers totaled 14 All-CUSA honors following their historic run to a third-straight Conference USA title last weekend. FIU’s Ekaterina Khairutdinova was named the CUSA Player of the Year to headline the Panther selections. FIU also had five players selected to the First Team Singles roster and two pairs named First Team Doubles.

Khairtudinova and teammate Valery Gynina took home the Doubles Team of the Championship, specifically recognizing their excellence at the CUSA Championships. Gynina also notched Singles Player of the Championship, marking the second-straight year that she has received this honor. Dana Baidaulet also earned CUSA All-Freshman Team status.

On the first team for singles, Katerina Mandelikova, Oyinlomo Quadre and Aleksandra Simeva joined teammates Gynina and Khairutdinova as selections. In doubles, both Mandelikova / Quadre and Gynina / Khairutdinova were both honored on the First Team.

Khairutdinova earns Player of the Year for the second-straight season following an excellent 2025 campaign, during which she went 13-1 at FIU’s No. 1 singles spot. The junior from Krasnodar, Russia provided the clinching win at the 2025 CUSA Championships and won the ITA Singles Southeast Regional Championship in the fall, a first in program history.

Additionally, her selection to the Singles First Team is the second of her career (2024). This is also her second time earning First Team status in Doubles (2023).

Khairutdinova and Gynina rolled to doubles’ success at the 2025 CUSA Championships, with convincing wins in all three matches. Khairutdinova was honored with the same award in 2023 while Gynina takes her first Doubles Team of the Championship honor.

Gynina has also enjoyed a fantastic season, sporting a 13-2 record in singles. She showed her dominance once again in singles at the CUSA Championships, winning both of her completed matches in straight sets to earn her second-straight Singles Player of the Championship nod. The sophomore from Moscow, Russia also made it back-to-back seasons as a First Team singles selection and earned a First Team Doubles nod for the first time in her career.

Quadre continues to be a force for FIU and has now been named First Team in both Singles and Doubles for the last three seasons. She racked up 21 combined singles wins this season, going 13-3 this Spring. Her success in doubles with Mandelikova is well documented, entering this year as the sixth-ranked pairing nationally. The duo has gone 7-1 this season and will be FIU’s top pairing as it prepares for the NCAA Tournament.

Mandelikova also earned First Team All-CUSA honors last season in both Singles and Doubles. She has now been named All-CUSA in both Singles and Doubles in all three seasons at FIU. The junior from Ropice, Czech Republic racked up a combined record of 23-8 this season.

Simeva’s excellence has shown in her first season as a consistent presence in the lineup, posting a 5-2 record in singles. She continued to build on a strong campaign with two key victories in straight sets at the CUSA Championships. This is the first All-CUSA honor of her career for the sophomore from North Macedonia.

Baidaulet earns All-Freshman status, collecting eight wins in her first season as a Panther. She had singles wins over opponents from Houston and USF and doubles wins over teams from Liberty and Delaware.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWTENNIS), Twitter (@FIUWTENNIS), and Facebook (Facebook.comFIUWTN) for all the latest Women’s Tennis news.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.

Print Friendly Version

Sports

What to know about Kentucky, Wisconsin volleyball’s Final Four foe

Published

6 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 17, 2025, 8:29 a.m. CT

The 2020 and 2021 NCAA volleyball national champions will be vying for a spot in the 2025 national championship match.

Wisconsin, of course, won the 2021 national championship. Kentucky won the 2020 national championship. Neither team has been playing on the final day of the season since then.

That will change as the Badgers and Wildcats face off in the NCAA regional semifinals on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The match will start roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh-Texas A&M match, which will start at 5:30 p.m.

Link

Sports

NCAA women’s volleyball championship: All-time winners list

Published

22 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec 16, 2025, 04:21 PM ET

The 2025 NCAA women’s volleyball championship will take place from Dec. 18-21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The 2025 Final Four teams heading to Kansas City are Pittsburgh (Pitt), Kentucky, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.

In 2024, Penn State defeated Louisville to take home the title. Stanford has the most all-time championships, with nine titles to its name. Penn State takes second place with eight, followed by Nebraska in third with five.

Check out the all-time winners list for the NCAA women’s volleyball championship below:

2024: Penn State

2023: Texas

2022: Texas

2021: Wisconsin

2020: Kentucky

2019: Stanford

2018: Stanford

2017: Nebraska

2016: Stanford

2015: Nebraska

2014: Penn State

2013: Penn State

2012: Texas

2011: UCLA

2010: Penn State

2009: Penn State

2008: Penn State

2007: Penn State

2006: Nebraska

2005: Washington

2004: Stanford

2003: Southern California

2002: Southern California

2001: Stanford

2000: Nebraska

1999: Penn State

1998: Long Beach State

1997: Stanford

1996: Stanford

1995: Nebraska

1994: Stanford

1993: Long Beach State

1992: Stanford

1991: UCLA

1990: UCLA

1989: Long Beach State

1988: Texas

1987: Hawai’i

1986: Pacific

1985: Pacific

1984: UCLA

1983: Hawai’i

1982: Hawai’i

1981: Southern California

For more NCAA updates, check out the ESPN hub page with scores, rankings and more.

Link

Sports

Forty-One Sun Belt Volleyball Student-Athletes Earn Academic All-District Honors

Published

39 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW ORLEANS – Forty-one Sun Belt Conference volleyball student-athletes have been selected to the 2025 Academic All-District® NCAA Division I Volleyball Team.

Four Sun Belt volleyball student-athletes selected as Academic All-District® honorees were selected for advancement to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members including App State’s Maya Winterhoff, Georgia Southern’s Kirsten Barrett and Reagan Barth and Texas State’s Samantha Wunsch.

Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced January 13, 2026.

The 2025 Academic All-District® Volleyball teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes volleyball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

To qualify for All-District honors, a student-athlete must maintain a grade-point average of 3.50 or better and compete in at least 90% of the institution’s matches OR have started at least 66% of the institution’s matches.

For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.

Sun Belt Academic All-District Selections
Lou Johnson, App State
Maya Winterhoff*, App State
Addison Heidemann, App State
Ali Morris, App State
Erin Madigan, Arkansas State
Devyn Lewis, Arkansas State
Libby Gee-Weiler, Arkansas State
Addison Collum, Arkansas State
Anna Rita, Coastal Carolina
Emma Van Elslande, Coastal Carolina
Ava Wallis, Coastal Carolina
Emily Fowler, Coastal Carolina
Mayte Camacho, Georgia Southern
Lydia Seymour, Georgia Southern
Kirsten Barrett*, Georgia Southern
Reagan Barth*, Georgia Southern
Shanelle Martinez, Georgia State
Nazli Guvener, Georgia State
Alessia Cappai, Georgia State
Grace Wenrich, James Madison
Rebecca Watkins, James Madison
Julia McNeley, James Madison
Elli Barry, Marshall
Marae Reilly, Marshall
Bella Thompson, Marshall
Kate Kilpatrick, Old Dominion
Adrienne Peji, Old Dominion
Elisa Maggi, Old Dominion
Lillie Johnson, Southern Miss
Morgen Durgens, Southern Miss
Brynn Botkin, Southern Miss
Sadie McAda, Southern Miss
Brooke Bentke, Texas State
Anna Blaine, Texas State
Bailey Hanner, Texas State
Samantha Wunsch*, Texas State
Amiah Butler, Troy
Kalina Calvillo, Troy
Jaci Mesa, Troy
Olivia Kwiatkowski, Troy
Morgan Howard, ULM

Link

Sports

Track and Field Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track and Field Schedule

Published

50 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

RICHMOND, Va. — The University of Richmond indoor track and field Director of Track/Head Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field, Lori Taylor has announced the 2025-26 indoor schedule, featuring a competitive slate of meets across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts leading into the postseason.

The Spiders open the new year with the VCU Rams Indoor Invite on Jan. 9 in Richmond, before traveling to the Wesley A. Brown Invitational at the Naval Academy on Jan. 16-17. Richmond will compete in a split weekend on Jan. 23-24, sending athletes to the VMI Invitational in Lexington, Va., and the Liberty Open in Lynchburg, Va.

Action continues Jan. 30-31 with another split meet, as the Spiders take part in the Penn State National Open in University Park, Pa., and the Patriot Games hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va.

February competition begins at the VMI Winter Relays on Feb. 6-7, followed by the ECAC/IC4A Championships at Boston on Feb. 7. The Spiders return to Liberty for the Darius Dixon Invitational on Feb. 13, then head back to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 14. The regular season concludes with the Father Diamond Invitational at George Mason on Feb. 20.

Postseason action begins at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 27-28, with qualifying athletes advancing to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 13.

A complete schedule with meet times and additional details will be available on RichmondSpiders.com as the season approaches.

Link

Sports

Former volleyball coach charged after viral video sparks investigation

Published

56 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 16, 2025, 7:03 p.m. ET

A former volleyball coach who appeared in a viral sting operation video back in August has been formally charged. Levi Garrett, 34, was charged with dissemination of matter harmful to minors following an investigation.

A probable cause affidavit states he allegedly sent sexually explicit photos of himself to someone he thought was an underage boy. He appeared in a viral video by YouTuber Jidon Adams, prompting an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police detective to open up a case against him.

Link

Sports

Track & Field | Virginia Track & Field Names Distance Carnival After Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni

Published

1 hour ago

December 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia track and field program will name the prestigious distance carnival at the Virginia Challenge on Friday, April 17th, the Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge.

Virginia is set to host the annual Virginia Challenge outdoor track & field meet on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18 at Lannigan Field. The meet is known to feature high level competition across all event areas, but especially in the distance events. The distance carnival is set to be named in honor of long time Virginia Track & Field/Cross Country supporters, Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni. The Lorenzonis have served the Charlottesville community for over 40 years as the couple co-owns The Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop with their two eldest children, Alec and Audrey.

“When I think about volunteerism and commitment to the community, it would be difficult to imagine any family doing more than Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Vin Lananna. “For decades, Mark & Cynthia have positively impacted thousands of running enthusiasts. We are honored to recognize them with the Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge.”

“What an honor to be recognized in such a public arena and to be closely affiliated with an iconic program that has not only given our family so much to cheer for, but even more importantly, has enriched our lives through the hundreds of special friendships we’ve had the pleasure of sharing with our wonderful UVA Track & Field coaches and athletes over the past 45 years,” said Mark Lorenzoni.

A running family, M. Lorenzoni began his running career back in high school. A recreational runner throughout college, M. Lorenzoni took up road racing and even began his amateur coaching career by coaching his wife, Cynthia. Since then, he has coached runners at all levels while also continuing to run himself.

“What a wonderful surprise and great honor to have our family name affiliated with this magnificent program in such a thoughtful way,” said M. Lorenzoni.

Also beginning her career back in high school, Cynthia Lorenzoni was undefeated in cross country and track & field before going on to compete in college at Michigan State. As a Spartan, C. Lorenzoni finished runner-up at the Big 10 Cross Country Championships during her freshman season and finished 16th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships the same year. After college, she continued to train and compete post collegiately winning the Marine Corps Marathon twice, recorded a 13th place finish at the Boston Marathon and posted a personal best time of 2:38 in the marathon.

“We are humbled by this genuinely thoughtful gesture and we’re very grateful to Coach Vin, his hardworking and caring staff, to [Virginia Director of Athletics] Carla Williams and especially to all of our wonderful “kids” (what we fondly call our UVA Track & Field athletes) for this incredible honor,” said M. Lorenzoni.

Mark and Cynthia, who have four children that all ran cross country in high school, have served the community for over 45 years. Not only as the founders of The Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop but between the two of them have also served on nearly 30 not-for-profit community boards and having directed, on a volunteer basis, close to 900 local races that have raised over $8 million for area organizations.

“Giving back to a sport that has given so much to our family, in so many meaningful ways, has truly been both one of the easiest and most rewarding things in our life together,” said M. Lorenzoni.

The Lorenzonis commitment to the sport of cross country and track & field is evident not only in their personal pursuits and community endeavors but also in their continued support of the Virginia Track & Field/Cross Country program. The first annual Mark & Cynthia Lorenzoni Distance Night at the Virginia Challenge is set to take place on Friday, April 17^th at Lannigan Field.

Link