Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Sports

WT Athletics Announces the Hall of Champions Class of 2025

Published

on

WT Athletics Announces the Hall of Champions Class of 2025

CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Champions Selection Committee is proud to announce the Class of 2025 as the newest inductees into the Hall.
 
Legacy Award Recipients: BritKare Home Medical and Ed & Jeanne Wright. The Legacy Award, established in 2008, recognizes individuals and organizations who have made significant lifetime contributions to the success and legacy of West Texas A&M Athletics.
 
The Class of 2025: Fatim Affessi (Track & Field), Don Carthel (Football), Joe Corbett (Baseball), Brett Hall (Tennis), Kristen Jacobson (Equestrian), Duke Kicinski (Track & Field), Ryan Quaid (Men’s Basketball), Eva Rogers (Women’s Golf). 
 
The Athletic Hall of Champions, established in 1987, recognizes outstanding student-athletes, coaches and administrators for their significant achievements. The Selection Committee is comprised of 23 voting members that includes previous Inductees, coaches, Buffalo Club members, university faculty and staff and athletics staff.
 
The Class of 2025 will be inducted during the Hall of Champions Reception scheduled for Friday, October 3rd as well as being recognized during WT Football’s homecoming contest against Sul Ross State on Saturday, October 4th.
 
LEGACY AWARD
 
BritKare Home Medical
BritKare Home Medical has been a long-time supporter of Lady Buff Volleyball, sponsoring the BritKare Lady Buff Classic for the better part of two decades. In 2021, the company provided additional support that allowed West Texas A&M to install a world-class volleyball surface inside “The Box”. BritKare Court is one of only five Olympic-caliber volleyball courts in NCAA Division II. BritKare now has three locations with over 60 employees.
 
Ed & Jeanne Wright
Ed & Jeanne Wright are the epitome of a Buff fan, not only supporting the athletes, but coaches as well. Ed and Jeanne have fed numerous athletes over the years and helped Buff Nations in many intangible ways. They have given generously to WT Athletics for decades, as well as he has been a season ticket holder for numerous sports as well. 
 
CLASS OF 2025
 
Fatim Affessi
One of the most decorated track & field athletes in West Texas A&M history takes her rightful spot in the Hall of Champions. Affessi was the first person in Division II history to win the USTFCCCA Women’s Field Athlete of the Year Award on three different occasions, winning the NCAA DII Outdoor National Title in the long jump in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Affessi also added National Titles in the indoor triple jump (2018) and the outdoor 4x100m relay (2017). The Geneva, Switzerland native still holds the indoor and outdoor school record in the long jump.
 
Affessi, an 11-time All-American, helped the Lady Buffs claim NCAA Division II National Championships in 2017 (outdoor) and 2018 (indoor). She was the first athlete in school history to win multiple National Titles in a single event, claiming the long jump and 4x100m relay crown in 2017. Affessi was dominant at the Lone Star Conference Championships, winning nine conference titles during her career to be named the Lone Star Conference Female Athlete of the Year in 2019. Affessi currently works as a Clinical Counselor Associate in Oregon.
 
Don Carthel
Don Carthel brought the West Texas A&M Football program into prominence during his time on the sidelines from 2005-12. The four-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year led the Buffs to four LSC Championships (2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and an overall record of 79-22 including a record of 60-11 during LSC contests. Carthel was named the AFCA Region Four Coach of the Year in 2007 as the Buffs registered just the second undefeated regular season in school history.
 
The Buffs made six trips to the NCAA Playoffs under Carthel including a run to the NCAA Division II National Semifinals in 2012. Following his time in Canyon he served as an assistant coach at East Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin, winning the 2017 NCAA DII National Championship with the Lions. Carthel was inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 as well as the Eastern New Mexico Hall of Fame in 2001.
 
Joe Corbett
The all-time strikeout leader for West Texas A&M Baseball enters the Hall of Champions, Joe Corbett became one of the most dominant pitchers in Lone Star Conference history during his two seasons in Canyon in 2018-19. The Edmond, Oklahoma product went 22-3 for the Buffs with a 2.75 ERA as he tossed nine complete games with 236 strikeouts in 189.2 innings of work.
 
Corbett was named the 2019 Division II National Pitcher of the Year by the NCBWA and D2CCA, claiming First Team All-American honors. He became the highest drafted player in WT history when he was selected in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers, also becoming just the fifth LSC player ever selected inside of the Top-10 rounds of the MLB Draft. Corbett continues to pitch professionally as he was a member of the 2025 Caribbean Series Championship squad as well as the 2025 LIDOM Finals Champions.
 
Brett Hall
Hall registered a standout tennis career at West Texas State from 1973-77. The Houston native registered a singles record of 90-30 during his collegiate career for the most victories in school history. Hall was a member of three Missouri Valley Conference Championship teams.
 
Hall won the MVC Singles Championship in 1974 and 1976 while also claiming the doubles crows in 1975 and 1976. Brett is currently the Tennis Professional at Freestone Park in Gilbert, Arizona. Hall is an advocate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising money for the group whenever possible. 
 
Kristen Jacobson
Jacobson put together one of the most impressive equestrian careers in West Texas A&M history from 1999-03. She won the IHSA Advanced Horsemanship National Championship in 2001 followed by an IHSA Open Western Reserve Title and a NCEA Western Championship in 2002.
 
2003 saw Jacobson win the NCEA Reigning Reserve Championship as well as the NCEA Western National Title. Following her career Jacobson served as an Assistant Coach and Event Manager at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Kristen is also a founding member of the Panhandle Reined Cow Horse Association. Jacobson is currently a Strategic Account Manager at Semex.
 
Duke Kicinski
Two-time NCAA National Champion Duke Kicinski takes his rightful place in the WT Hall of Champions. He became the first men’s individual National Champion in 2016, winning the Discus Title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Kicinski was a two-time All-American for the Buffs before transferring to Texas Tech.
 
Kicinski continued to impress during his time in Lubbock as the Red Raiders won the 2019 NCAA Division I Track & Field National Championship, Duke picked up a victory in the discus to become just the second athlete to ever win a discus national championship at the DI and DII level. Kicinski won a pair of Big 12 Championships and qualified for the 2021 U.S Olympic Trials. Following his senior campaign Kicinski was named the USTFCCCA Men’s Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year, Duke is currently the Head Coach of Cross Country and Track at Texas Wesleyan University.
 
Ryan Quaid
West Texas A&M’s all-time leading rebounder Ryan Quaid joins the Hall of Champions Class of 2025. The Buffs registered an incredible record of 113-27 during Quaid’s time in Canyon, winning a pair of NCAA South Central Regional Championships. Quaid was named the D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year as well as the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year in 2019.
 
The Fort Collins, Colorado product scored 1,705 career points for the Buffs to average 12.2 points per game as he is the only player in program history with 1,700+ points, 1,000+ rebounds and 100+ blocks. Quaid grabbed a school record 1,004 rebounds during his career. Ryan also excelled in the classroom, being named the LSC Academic Player of the Year in 2018. Quaid played professionally overseas with the RASTA Vechta in Germany, he is currently a Multifamily Investment Sales Associate in Dallas.
 
Eva Rogers
Lady Buff Golf’s Eva Rogers was a three-time National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar that captained the Lady Buffs to three team tournament championships in 2011-12. Eva claimed a pair of individual tournament victories during her time in Maroon & White as the Florida native finished ninth at the 2010 NCAA West Regionals.
 
Rogers has become one of the top golf instructors in the country following her playing career as she has earned numerous recognitions including Golf Digest Best Young Instructor in America as well as US Kids Top-50 Instructor in America. She is a published writer for PGA Magazine, CDGA and Daily Herald News. Eva is currently the PGA Teaching Professional at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.
 

Print Friendly Version

Sports

Men’s & Women’s Track & Field set to open indoor season this weekend at Bison Opener

Published

on


LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven will send 59 student-athletes to Bucknell University on Friday night (Dec. 5) and Saturday morning (Dec. 6) to open the Bald Eagles’ 2025-26 men’s and women’s indoor track and field season.
 
The Bison Open will take place inside Gerhard Fieldhouse.
 
BISON OPEN MEET INFO

 
PSAC/NCAA QUALIFYING STANDARDS

 
COLLEGE TEAMS COMPETING AT BISON OPEN

  • Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Indiana (PA), Lincoln, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Mount St. Mary’s, Penn State, Shippensburg, St. Francis

 
MEN’S NOTES
Lock Haven will send 40 men to compete in 17 total events.
 
In 2024-25, the Bald Eagles took fifth place at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Indoor Track & Field Championships.
 
The Bald Eagles will return six PSAC place winners from last season. Nick Bellomo in the heptathlon, Morgan Gavitt and Anden Atkins in the 800-meter run, Jakob Rager in the 3,000-meter run, Josiah Schans and Cameron Lewis as part of the 400-meter relay team will all return in the 2025-26 season for Lock Haven.
 
Nine newcomers will make their debut on Saturday for The Haven.
 
LOCK HAVEN MEN’S ENTRIES
Heptathlon: Nick Bellomo
Long Jump: Isaiah Brinker, Michael Lawrence, Benjamin Warburton, Jaden Wright
Triple Jump: Isaiah Brinker, Michael Lawrence, Tadd Ungard, Bryce Warren
High Jump: Ben Gusciora, Shawn Hertzog, Ben Streator, Bryce Warren
Weight Throw: Peter Bellomo, Ty King, Parker Sandt, Eric Zalar
Shot Put: Peter Bellomo, Patrick Marcinko, Eric Zalar
Pole Vault: Kevin Taylor
60-Meter Hurdles: Rocco Pacifico, Matt Reinard, Jorge Santana, Josiah Schans
60-Meter Dash: Dylan Cassetori, Gage Chipeleski, Lukas Epitropakis, Michael Lawrence, Cameron Lewis, Garrison Lucas, Rocco Pacifico, Dillyn Reibsome, Rocky Romani, Josiah Schans, Kevin Taylor, Tadd Ungard, Benjamin Warburton, Jonah White, Sam Wible, Ryan Williams, Brody Wolfe, Jaden Wright
200-Meter Dash: Isaiah Brinker, Dylan Cassetori, Gage Chipeleski, Lukas Epitropakis, Aden Howell, Cameron Lewis, Adam Linkhorst, Dillyn Reibsome, Jorge Santana, Trey Wagner, Bryce Warren, Benjamin Warburton, Jonah White, Sam Wible, Brody Wolfe
300-Meter Dash: Rocco Pacifico, Matt Reinard, Rocky Romani, Josiah Schans, Ryan Williams, Jaden Wright
400-Meter Dash: Aden Howell, Adam Linkhorst, Trey Wagner
500-Meter Dash: Sage Carr
800-Meter Run: Skylar Small, Lorenzo Thompson
Mile Run: Jarrett Lee, Michael Loffredo
3,000 Meter Run: Jakob Rager, Anthony Solis-Morales
4×400-Meter Relay: A – (Wible, Schans, Reinard, Lewis), B – Carr, Epitropakis, Gusciora, Thompson) C – (Howell, Pacifico, Romani, Chipeleski) D – (Lee, Williams, Small, Loffredo)
 
WOMEN’S NOTES
On the women’s side, Lock Haven will send 19 athletes to compete in 12 total events.
 
Much like the men, the women’s team will see a mix of returners and newcomers featured on Friday and Saturday, with the returning PSAC place winners being Reagan Irons (high jump) and Samantha Trench (60-meter hurdles).
 
Mallory Eck, Alyssa VanGorder, Maria Puglia, Madalyn Smith, Laurie Thompson and Clarissa Davis will all return in the throws.
 
Bald Eagle sprinters Natalie Gentzel, Alexanne Fite, Kelci Carle, Lillian Bradley and Makayla Grace Weber are set to make their returns.
 
Elizabeth Shultz will return to compete in the 800-meter run.
 
Lock Haven will be expecting to see newcomers Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Macy Plowman and Deja Roark break onto the scene in the sprints.
 
Freshman Alannah Irwin will make her debut Friday night in the pentathlon.
 
LOCK HAVEN WOMEN’S ENTRIES
 
Pentathlon: Alannah Irwin
Long Jump: Samantha Trench
High Jump: Reagan Irons, Samantha Trench
Weight Throw: Alyssa VanGorder, Maria Puglia, Madalyn Smith, Laurie Thompson
Shot Put: Mallory Eck, Clarissa Davis, Alyssa VanGorder, Madalyn Smith
60-Meter Hurdles: Samantha Trench, Makayla Grace Weber, Kelci Carle
60-Meter Dash: Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Lillian Bradley, Macy Plowman, Deja Roark, Alexanne Fite, Natalie Gentzel
200-Meter Dash: Ella Ballard, Paige Jodon, Lillian Bradley, Macy Plowman, Deja Roark, Makayla Grace Weber
300-Meter Dash: Alexanne Fite, Natalie Gentzel
400-Meter Dash: Kelci Carle
800-Meter Run: Elizabeth Shultz
4×400-Meter Relay: A – (Elizabeth Shultz, Alexanne Fite, Lillian Bradley, Natalie Gentzel), B – (Kelci Carle, Macy Plowman, Makayla Grace Weber, Ella Ballard, Samantha Trench)
 
RECAPS AND FINAL RESULTS
Recaps and final results from the Bison Opener will be posted to www.lockhavenathletics.com late Saturday night (Dec. 5).
 
UP NEXT
The Lock Haven men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams will compete again on Jan. 17 at the Nittany Lion Open.
 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Men’s Lacrosse and Track & Field Add New Staff

Published

on


ALBION, Mich. — Albion College athletics is proud to announce the addition of two new assistant coaches to round out a pair of coaching staffs. 

Henry Wehrly (track and field) and Kyle Borek (men’s lacrosse) join the Britons ahead of the spring semester. 

Wehrly jumps back into the swing of things at Albion

Head Coach Lance Coleman announced the addition of Henry Wehrly, who returns to his alma mater after crossing the graduation stage last spring. A four-year member of the track and field team, Wehrly was a standout sprinter and jumper. As a senior, the Manchester, Michigan native, earned a pair of top-four finishes at the MIAA Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. 

Wehrly graduated with a degree in Kinesiology and has been working as a personal trainer at Manchester Wellness Center. He has organized operations for the business and worked with individual clients on proper techniques, training, and fitness plans.

Borek joins reigning MIAA Tournament Champions

Fresh off winning the 2025 MIAA Tournament, head coach Jacob DeCola has added Kyle Borek to the coaching staff ahead of the 2026 season. Borek returns to the collegiate ranks after having last served as an assistant coach at Davenport University during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Borek was responsible for the Panthers’ defensive structure. He focused on game planning, film breakdown, and individual player development. He previously worked as a boys varsity assistant coach at Haslett/Williamston High School for two seasons.

Borek is no stranger to the MIAA, as he was a three-year member of the men’s lacrosse team at the University of Olivet. A long-stick midfielder, Borek was a two-time All-MIAA Second Team honoree as he amassed 138 ground balls and 87 caused turnovers over his collegiate career. 

 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

PBC Indoor Track & Field Season Preview

Published

on




Reigning PBC Champions Embry Riddle have been tabbed as unanimous favorites to take home both the PBC Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field titles by the league’s coaches. Embry Riddle received five first place votes on both the men’s and women’s side. Flagler received one first place vote in each. Augusta, Clayton State, Lander and USC Beaufort completed the tables in order. 
 

Embry Riddle have been dominant since the inception of the PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2023-24. The Eagles have been crowned men’s and women’s champions in each of the previous two seasons. In 2025, the two Eagles were selected for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships with both returning as All-Americans, the first in PBC Indoor Track & Field history. Brooklynn Gould finished 7th in the Pentathlon and Mikaela Miles finished 3rd in the Triple Jump. Embry Riddle sees Miles returns for her senior year in 2025-26, as the Eagles look to secure a third consecutive PBC Championship.
 

Flagler have been tabbed to finish second in both the men’s & women’s championship. On the women’s side, the Saints improved from a third-place finish in 2024 to a second-place finish in 2025 at the PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship. The Saints had five first place finishers at the championship in 2025. Graduate Taylor Stone was also selected for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championship for the second consecutive season. On the men’s side, the Saints have placed second in each of the two previous seasons. Flagler had six first place finishers at the PBC Championship in 2025, and improvement from three in 2024. 
 

Augusta have been tabbed third place finishers for both the men’s and women’s championship. The Jaguars will make their PBC Indoor Track & Field Championship debut this season. 

 













2025-26 Women’s Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank Team Points
1. Embry Riddle (5) 25
2. Flagler (1) 20
3. Augusta 16
4. Clayton State 12
4. Lander 12
6. USC Beaufort 5













2025-26 Men’s Indoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank Team Points
1. Embry Riddle (5) 25
2. Flagler (1) 20
3. Augusta 17
4. Clayton State 12
5. Lander 11
6. USC Beaufort 5



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Track & Field Open Indoor Season At Bison Opener

Published

on


Women’s Track & Field | 12/5/2025 11:00:00 AM

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

>> Saint Francis Track & Field will once again open the 2025-26 indoor season at the Bison Opener at Bucknell University’s Gerhard Fieldhouse on Saturday.
>> The first track event will be the men’s 60m hurdle trials at 8:30 a.m. and the first field event will be men’s pole vault at 9:10 a.m.
>> Forty-two athletes, 28 men and 14 women, will be competing at the meet for the Red Flash.


2025-26 INDOOR SEASON PREVIEW

Head Coach Douglas Hoover is returning for his 14th season at the helm of the Saint Francis University Track & Field program.

The Red Flash are coming off a 2024-25 indoor season where the women finished third and the men took six at the NEC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Red Flash had eight podium finishes and one event victories. Clark Gulycz, who is competing this weekend, became the NEC Men’s Indoor Shot Put Champion with a mark of 16.75m.



NEC PRESEASON POLL 


Saint Francis women’s track & field was picked fifth in the NEC Preseason Poll. Wagner earned five first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Stonehill and CCSU both gained two first-place nods to finish in second and third place. Chicago State gained the last vote for first-place, finishing in fourth. After the Red Flash in fifth place, FDU, LIU, New Haven, Mercyhurst, and Le Moyne round out the ten-team poll. 

Saint Francis men’s track & field was picked seventh in the NEC Preseason Poll. CCSU earned eight first-place votes and earned the distinction of being the preseason favorite. Wagner gained one first-place vote to finish in second. Stonehill and Chicago State were picked to finish in third and fourth. FDU and LIU were both tied in fifth place, however, LIU earned the last vote for first-place. After the Red Flash in seventh place, New Haven, Le Moyne, and Mercyhurst round out the ten-team poll. 



RED FLASH AT BISON OPENER HISTORY


It will be the 15th time since the 2008-09 season that Saint Francis will be opening the season at the Bison Opener. At last year’s event, there were 14 top-5 finishes, including two first place finishes. Olivia Renk took first in the women’s 200m (25.60) and Julian Saunders took the men’s 200m (22.12).



NEXT UP FOR RED FLASH


The Red Flash will travel to the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y. to compete in the Wagner College Seahawk Shootout hosted by Wagner College on Dec. 12.



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

Track Season Begins Saturday – Syracuse University Athletics

Published

on


The Syracuse track and field team kicks off its 2025-26 season on Saturday at the Cornell Greg Page Relays.

MEET INFO:

Date: Saturday, Dec. 6

Location: Barton Hall | Ithaca, N.Y.

Live Results: Here

ORANGE ENTRIES:

‘Cuse will start the day in the 60-meter hurdles at 11 a.m. Tawakal Omar and Jamir Brown will make their Orange debuts for the men. Twenty minutes later, Billie Frazier, Emeline Clark, Ivana Richards, Peyton Rollins and Marissa Saunders will race for the women.

The 60-meter dash will kickoff at 11:35 a.m., with Syracuse’s participants coming from a host of Orange men entered. At 11:50 a.m., Bianca Williams, Indie Wallace-Persaud, Jada Williams and Esther Granda will all race in the women’s event.

Samantha Bloch, Kayla Harding, Lizzie Bigelow, Blake Parker and Hailey Schuemann will take on the mile at 12:10 p.m., before the finals of the 60-meter hurdles and 60-meter dash events begin starting at 12:40 p.m.

Grace Finnegan and Luise Hiltzbleck will run in the 3,000-meter run at 1:55 p.m.

Elijah Mallard will represent the men in the 300-meters, followed b Nylah Robinson, Leah Bellow, Mia Hernandez and Andrea Pomales at 3:20 p.m. to close the meet for ‘Cuse.

 

 



Link

Continue Reading

Sports

No. 4 Gophers Host Fairfield to Open NCAA Tournament

Published

on


MINNEAPOLIS — The No. 4 seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers are getting set to host the NCAA Tournament as they take on the Fairfield Stags (25-5, 17-1 MAAC) on Friday night at Maturi Pavilion. The first match of the day between No. 5 Iowa State (22-7, 12-6 Big 12) and St. Thomas (21-9, 11-5 Summit) will begin at 4:30 p.m. CT and ESPN+ will televise. Minnesota’s match will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first match. The winners of each of Friday’s matches will compete on Saturday night at 7 p.m. inside Maturi Pavilion for the right to go to the Sweet 16.

This season marks Minnesota’s 30th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, including their 11th straight. The ‘U’ is 28-1 all-time in first round matchups.

GAME 1 INFORMATION

No. 5 Iowa State vs. St. Thomas

Friday, Dec. 5

4:30 p.m. CT (30 minutes after game one ends)

Maturi Pavilion

Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: ESPN+ – Sam Konstan (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson Uram (Analyst)

Radio: GopherSports.com – Tanner Hoops (Play-By-Play)

Live Stats

GAME 2 INFORMATION

No. 4 Minnesota vs. Fairfield

Friday, Dec. 5

Approximately 6:30 p.m. CT (30 minutes after game one ends)

Maturi Pavilion

Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: ESPN+ – Sam Konstan (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson Uram (Analyst)

Radio: GopherSports.com – Tanner Hoops (Play-By-Play)

Live Stats

GAME 3 INFORMATION

Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

Saturday, Dec. 6

7 p.m. CT (30 minutes after game one ends)

Maturi Pavilion

Minneapolis, Minn.

TV: ESPN+ – Andrew Cornelius (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson Uram (Analyst)

Radio: GopherSports.com – Tanner Hoops (Play-By-Play)

Live Stats

TICKETS

Fans can buy tickets for the first and second round matches here.

HEADING INTO THE MATCH

Minnesota leads Fairfield, 1-0, ISU, 25-7, and UST, 3-0

First Meeting: 2019 (Fairfield), 1975 (ISU), 2021 (UST)

Last Meeting: 2019 (Fairfield), 2021 (IST), 2025 (UST)

NOTES TO KNOW

997 — Career kills for Julia Hanson.

258 — Keegan Cook won his 250th career match as a head coach Oct. 12 vs. Ohio St. He’s at 258 for his career.

40 — Minnesota is 40-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches at Maturi Pavilion. The last loss was in 2018 vs. Oregon (Sweet 16).

34 — Minnesota ranks 34th nationally (2nd B1G) with 274 blocks.

30 — This year is Minnesota’s 30th ever NCAA Tournament appearance. That is the 11th most of any program in the country.

24 — Julia Hanson has 24 matches with 10+ kills this year in 30 chances (missed Loyola Chicago match).

23 — The ‘U’ ranks 23rd nationally and third in the Big Ten with 2.61 blocks per set.

19 — Minnesota ranks 19th nationally (5th B1G) in hitting % (.278).

14 — Sweeps in 29 matches for the Golden Gophers. They’ve won seven matches in four sets (1-2 in five).

13 — Times this season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They’re 10-3 when going for 10-or-more blocks (losses at Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin).

12 — Minnesota is 12-4 at home this season. Only losses were to UCLA, USC, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

11 — 2025 is Minnesota’s 11th straight NCAA Tournament. They’ve made 26 of the last 27 (missed 2014). They’ve made three Final Fours, four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight since 2015.

7 — Jordan Taylor ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 1.21 blocks per set, a team-best. That mark leads all Big Ten freshmen.

7 — During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 23 aces. Gilk and Swenson rank ninth with 22.

7 — Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 7-26 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons. (Wins vs. No. 15 Baylor, No. 5 Oregon, No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 11 Purdue, No. 23 Indiana and No. 24 Penn St.).

5 — Minnesota ranks 5th in attendance at 4,558 per match (avg.).

5 — Minnesota ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 183 service aces.

5 — During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranks fifth in the league in kills per set with 4.02.

5 — Julia Hanson is fifth in the B1G with 4.69 points per set.

4 — Julia Hanson is fourth in the Big Ten with 4.02 kills per set.

4 — Minnesota lost four starters to season-ending injuries in OH Alex Acevedo and Mckenna Wucherer, MB Calissa Minatee and L Zeynep Palabiyik.

3 — Gophers earned All-B1G honors in 2025. Julia Hanson (1st), Stella Swenson (2nd, Freshmen) and Carly Gilk (All-Freshmen).

3 — Straight 20+ kill matches for Julia Hanson in the Illinois, USC and Wisconsin matches. She’s the first Gopher to do so since Stephanie Samedy (’21). She’s hit 10+ in 11 of the last 13 matches.

2 — The Gophers rank second in the B1G in total blocks with 287. 

2 — During league play, the Gophers ranked second with 1.77 aces per set. They hold 129 aces (2nd in B1G).

LAST TIME OUT

• The then No. 18 Minnesota volleyball team split its final home weekend, defeating No. 11 Purdue in four sets and falling to No. 10 Wisconsin in three sets. Julia Hanson had 19 kills while Stella Swenson went for 40 assists in the win over Purdue, the Gophers lone top-15 win this season. No Gopher reached 10 kills on Friday vs. Wisconsin as the team was held to just .132 hitting.

GOPHERS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• The 2025 season marked the 30th year the Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. With an at-large bid, the Gophers advanced to the tournament for the 11th straight season and 26th in the last 27 seasons.

• In the first round of NCAA Tournaments, Minnesota is 28-1 all-time. In round two, Minnesota is 21-7.

• The Gophers all-time record in NCAA Tournaments is 62-29. Minnesota has made the Final Four six times (2003, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2019), national title game once (2004).

• The program has had 31 straight winning seasons, dating back to 1995. The ‘U’ has won 10-or-more Big Ten games in every season except for one dating back to 1999. The program has finished in the top six of the B1G standings every year since 2015.

GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS

• The ‘U’ entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll (finished 18th in 2024).

• At the end of regular season, the ‘U’ moved up to No. 17 on Monday, going up one spot from last week.

COACH COOK IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT  

Keegan Cook is 19-10 as a head coach in the NCAA Tournament. He led his Washington teams to one Final Four, three Elite Eights and two Sweet 16s. Both years at Minnesota, the ‘U’ has gone to the Round of 32.

HOSTING NCAA’S AT THE PAV

• All-time in NCAA Tournament matches at Maturi Pavilion, Minnesota is 40-4. Two of the losses came to Iowa State, in the 2008 (second round) and 2011 (Sweet 16) NCAA Tournaments. The other losses were in 2018 to Oregon (Sweet 16) and 1993 to Notre Dame (Sweet 16). Minnesota has won six straight NCAA matches at Maturi Pavilion.

SCOUTING FAIRFIELD 

• Fairfield (25-5, 17-1 MAAC) is led by third-year head coach Nancy Somera. In her three seasons at Fairfield, the team has posted a 69-24 record, including a 50-4 mark in league play. They’ve won three straight league titles.

• Fairfield is 0-1 against Power 4 Conference opponents this year, losing 3-2 to West Virginia early on in the season. They have not lost a match since Oct. 24 at Quinnipiac. Offensively, they’re led by Marnie Krubally (2.93 kps) and Allie Elliott (2.69 kps). All-time, they’re 0-14 in the NCAA Tournament. In 2000, they became the first MAAC team to win a set in the NCAA Tournament (3-1 loss at #15 Pepperdine).

SCOUTING IOWA ST.

• No. 23 Iowa State (22-7, 12-6 Big 12) is led by 21st-year head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch. ISU has made the NCAA Tournament in 17 of her 21 years at the helm. This year, ISU holds key wins over No. 18 Baylor, No. 6 Arizona State and No. 16 TCU. ISU will be making it’s 18th trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.

• Alea Goolsby (3.26 kps) and Morgan Brandt (9.52 aps) pace the offense while libero Rachel Van Gorp (4.83 dps) leads the defense. Van Gorp was the unanimous selection for Big 12 Libero of the Year while Brandt became the second Cyclone ever to win Big 12 Setter of the Year. Five total Cyclones made the all-league teams.

SCOUTING ST. THOMAS

• St. Thomas (21-9, 11-5 Summit) is led by 23rd-year head coach Thanh Pham. After finishing third in the Summit League in 2024, the Tommies took second this year before they took down top-seeded South Dakota State to win the Summit League tournament title and make their first Division I NCAA Tournament.

• The Tommies set Division I program records with 21 overall wins and 11 Summit League wins, and rank among the top 25 nationally in aces per set (9th), kills per set (12th), assists per set (14th), and attacks per set (22nd).

• Morgan Kealy won her second straight Summitt League Setter of the Year award while Tezra Rudzitis and Megan Wetter joined her on the first team. Anya Schmidt was named the league’s Freshman of the Year.

MINNESOTA’S HISTORY VS. FAIRFIELD, IOWA ST. AND ST. THOMAS

• Minnesota is 1-0 all-time vs. Fairfield. They last met in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, a 3-0 sweep for the Gophers.

• The ‘U’ is 25-7 all-time against Iowa State. The two teams last met in the 2021 season, a swep at the Diet Coke Classic for Minnesota. In the NCAA Tournament, they have met two times, with the Cyclones holding a 2-0 advantage. ISU defeated Minnesota in 2011, 3-1, at Maturi Pavilion. The match was a Sweet 16 game. In 2008, ISU beat Minnesota in four sets in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Pav.

• The Gophers are 3-0 all-time vs. UST since the Tommies became a Division I team in 2021. The first two matchups were sweeps in 2021 and 2024. The third was a four-set win for Minnesota this fall (25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 25-18). Julia Hanson had 18 kills and 10 digs to lead the ‘U’ in the match.

STRONG SCHEDULE PREPS ‘U’ FOR POSTSEASON

• The Gophers went 3-6 vs. ranked opponents in 2025. Minnesota was one of nine Big Ten teams to make the 2025 NCAA tournament. Of the Gophers 11 non-conference opponents, seven made the NCAA Tournament. 

• The ‘U’ enters the postseason with a top-15 RPI and earned the No. 13 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

• In all, the Gophers faced 15 teams that make up the field of 64. Against teams that made the postseason, Minnesota posted a 9-8 record this season.

THREE GOPHERS EARN ALL-BIG TEN HONORS

• Freshman opposite Carly Gilk, senior outside Julia Hanson and redshirt freshman Stella Swenson all earned all-league honors. Hanson was named a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection while Swenson made the second team and the all-freshman team. Gilk joined Swenson as a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree. Lauren Crowl garnered Minnesota’s Sportsmanship Award.

• Hanson earned her second straight First Team All-Big Ten honor while Swenson and Gilk earned their first honors from the Big Ten.

UP NEXT

If they are victorious, Minnesota take on the winner of No. 5 Iowa State and St. Thomas on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. CT. ESPN+ will televise again.



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending