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

Sports

You Betcha

Published

5 months ago

on

You Betcha

Welcome ladies and gentlemen, Iowa wrestling fans of all ages.

With Independence Day in our rearview mirror, the middle of July lies ahead of us. And that can only mean one thing:

It’s time for the USMC Junior Nationals.

Or in other words, it’s time for Fargo.

That’s right, the world’s largest wrestling competition has arrived once again, and thousands upon thousands of the top high school wrestlers from around the country will descend upon the Fargodome for a week of wall-to-wall action.

Among the mass of humanity will be plenty of prep stars worth monitoring – including several signees/commits to the Iowa men’s and women’s programs, plus a whole host of recruiting targets in the upcoming 2026 and 2027 classes.

I can’t watch every match/competitor for you, of course. But I can serve as a compass of sorts, so you’ll have a better idea of when/where to look.

So please, allow me to be your guide for this edition of this annual wrestling extravaganza.

And as such, let’s first look at the schedule for the week’s proceedings.

How to watch

A handy Fargo event schedule can be found at THIS LINK courtesy of FloWrestling – or if you prefer, RIGHT HERE in slightly greater detail thanks to USA Wrestling’s event page.

The quick and dirty of it, however, is as follows:

Junior/16U Girls Freestyle

  • Saturday/Sunday (July 12-13)

Junior/16U Boys Freestyle

  • Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday (July 14-16)

Junior/16U Boys Greco-Roman

  • Friday/Saturday (July 18-19)

Finals will be held on the final day of each given timeframe, with action ongoing from 8:00/9:00 a.m. until the late afternoon/evening just about every day of the tournament.

Every single Fargo match will be livestreamed on FloWrestling, with all results/brackets/statistics/bout orders/etc. accessible through USA Bracketing (free profile required).

Now, with all the housekeeping out of the way, let’s get into the fun stuff.

Women’s signees

A quartet of (known) future Hawkeyes will toe the line in Fargo over the next eight days. And in keeping with the order in which they’ll compete, we’ll start with the women.

Two incoming freshmen from the 2025 class will officially conclude their prep careers this Saturday/Sunday – ideally with a freestyle national title in hand.

Harlee Hiller, IL – 115lbs (JR)

  • #4 at 115lbs (#23 pound-for-pound)

Libby Dix, IA – 190lbs (JR)

  • #5 at 190lbs

Hiller – who joined Iowa’s 2025 class back in early May – is a must-watch for any unfamiliar Hawkeye fans.

Her elite Judo background constantly shows up in her wrestling – where she’ll hit big throws from all angles.

The Evanston (IL) native – whose mom and dad are head/assistant coach of the powerhouse Northwestern women’s lacrosse program – is a three-time Fargo placer to date. Her best finish thus far was a runner up result in 2023.

If Hiller wants to nab a ‘Stop Sign’ (the moniker for an individual Fargo title) in her final opportunity, she’ll have to navigate a field at 115 pounds littered with 11 other ranked wrestlers. Tops among them is #3 Taylor Whiting (WI) – a returning Fargo champ and potential 2026 target for the Hawkeyes.

Meanwhile, Libby Dix will be making her Fargo debut just days after announcing her commitment to the Iowa program.

In fact, one of the best upper weight prospects in America was a complete freestyle novice until this summer. Now, the multi-sport prep star will see where she stacks up amongst the nation’s best in the unfamiliar discipline.

The field at 190 pounds includes 11 nationally ranked wrestlers – five of whom reside in the top 10 (including Dix).

Men’s commits

The other two Iowa pledges in the Fargo field are on the men’s side – both from the Class of 2026.

Each is entered in the Junior Men’s Freestyle division, set to be contested Monday-Wednesday (July 14-16).

Owen McMullen, PA – 150lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • Unranked at 144/150lbs

Michael Mocco, FL – 285lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • #3 at 285lbs (#15 overall in 2026)

For Owen McMullen – Iowa’s first 2026 commit as of last fall – Fargo is another step in a long, arduous return.

The Pennsylvania native missed his entire 2024-25 high school season due to injury and only recently returned to competition. And while he may not be nationally ranked due to that long absence, Fargo represents a prime opportunity to reestablish his standing within the prep hierarchy.

Of the nine ranked wrestlers in the field at 150 pounds, none sits higher than #10. It wouldn’t shock me in the least to see McMullen make a deep run and show he’s just as deserving of a number next to his name when the next Flo rankings are released.

On the flip side, it’s no secret what Michael Mocco is capable of, nor whom he’ll likely have to prove it against this week.

Iowa’s heavyweight of the future was a double Fargo champ (Freestyle/Greco) in the 16U division back in 2023. He took a break last summer to bring home a U17 World title instead.

But after falling just short of the 2025 World team, he’s heading back to the Fargodome to throw down amongst possibly the toughest field at the event.

#1 Dreshaun Ross (Oklahoma State), #2 Coby Merrill and #4 Dean Bechtold (Lehigh) all present huge challenges.

Mocco may well have to knock off two of the three to be crowned champion.

Class of 2026 women’s wrestlers to watch

I won’t get too deep in the weeds with the following prospects – each of whom I detailed much more in my 2026 women’s recruiting breakdown.

However, all will be worth watching as they (potentially) audition to be a part of what could be an extremely small 2026 recruiting class for Coach Chun.

Madison Nieuwenhuis, MI – 105lbs (JR)

  • #5 at 100lbs

Taylor Whiting, WI – 115lbs (JR)

  • #3 at 115lbs (#22 pound-for-pound)

Carley Ceshker, WI – 140lbs (JR)

  • #3 at 135lbs

Faith Bane, NC – 145lbs (JR)

  • #6 at 145lbs

Michigander Madison Nieuwenhuis has reached back-to-back 16U finals at 100 pounds – winning in 2023. She steps up to 105 in the Junior Division this year, where several hammers await – including McKendree commit Heather Crull.

Elsewhere, the aforementioned Whiting/Hiller matchup is one I’d very much like to see during Sunday evening’s 115-pound final, especially with Whiting looking to repeat as Fargo champ.

At 140, Carley Ceshker bumps up from her weight class of current ranking to join a field filled with top competition. In the process, the two-time 16U Fargo runner up (2022-23) may get a rematch of her 2025 Wisconsin High School state final loss against Riley Hanrahan.

And at 145, Faith Bane is one of my sleeper recruits to watch. She doesn’t have a plethora of high-end results just yet, but she’ll have every chance to earn some this week amidst a bracket filled with six other athletes ranked #12 or better in the country.

Keep an eye on the following in-state prospects as well:

Katie Biscoglia – 105lbs (JR)

  • #24 at 105lbs

Greta Brus – 145lbs (JR)

  • #12 at 140lbs

Skylar Slade – 145lbs (JR)

  • Unranked at 145lbs

Anastasia Simon – 155lbs (16U)

  • #25 at 145lbs

Autumn Elsbury – 170lbs (JR)

  • #13 at 170lbs

Class of 2026 men’s wrestlers to watch

Similar to the women, I just broke down the 2026 recruiting landscape for the Iowa men’s program ten days ago.

And to no surprise, you’ll find many of the same names in the list to follow.

Rylan Seacrist, OH – 113lbs (JR Freestyle) *Arizona State commit

  • #9 at 113lbs (#96 overall in 2026)

Jordyn Raney, KY – 138lbs (JR Freestyle + Greco) *Oklahoma State commit

  • #4 at 138lbs (#5 overall in 2026)

Haakon Peterson, WI – 144lbs (JR Freestyle) *Michigan commit

  • #18 at 150lbs (#24 overall in 2026)

Liam Crook, WI – 165lbs (JR Freestyle) *Virginia commit

  • Unranked at 165/174lbs (#23 overall in 2026)

You’ll notice that all four of the wrestlers listed are currently committed to schools other than Iowa. And in indeed, that’s one of the major challenges as the Hawkeyes seek to salvage a once promising 2026 class.

The top 38 prospects in Flo’s rankings are either committed to Iowa, elsewhere, or are not on Iowa’s board for various reasons. And that leaves flipping current commits as the only viable option to reel in some top talent before this cycle ends.

Each member of the quartet above has either visited (Raney/Seacrist) or once planned to visit Iowa City (Crook/Peterson) before committing to their current school – which makes all of them sensible targets to rekindle their recruitment.

Or perhaps a lesser ranked, uncommitted prospect will make waves at Fargo this week and Iowa can pounce.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see.

Class of 2027 women’s wrestlers to watch

Once again, I’ll spare folks (and myself) an exhaustive breakdown of these 2027 prospects.

(I already went through that process a few weeks ago – which I’d highly encourage checking out if you missed it.)

But it’s safe to say there will be no shortage of potential Iowa targets from the soon-to-be women’s junior class present in Fargo this week. That’s because as many as 15 Hawkeyes could exhaust their eligibility following the 2026-27 season – and this will be the class stepping onto campus to fill their massive shoes.

(Yeah, no pressure.)

Here are some of the national names to keep an eye on:

Jaclyn Bouzakis, PA – 100lbs (JR)

  • #1 at 100lbs (#4 pound-for-pound)

Kayla Batres, CT – 110lbs (JR)

  • #7 at 110lbs

Emma Bacon, PA – 125lbs (JR)

  • #1 at 125lbs (#12 pound-for-pound)

Taina Fernandez, MD – 135lbs (JR/16U)

  • #1 at 135lbs (#2 pound-for-pound)

Riley Hanrahan, WI – 140lbs (JR)

  • #2 at 140lbs (#20 pound-for-pound)

Violette Lasure, PA – 145lbs (JR)

  • #1 at 145lbs (#10 pound-for-pound)

Ella Poalillo, NJ – 155lbs (JR)

  • #1 at 155lbs (#14 pound-for-pound)

Janiya Johnson, TN – 155lbs (16U)

  • #3 at 155lbs

Kaili Manuel, MI – 170lbs (16U)

  • #5 at 155lbs

Brooke Huffman, WI – 190lbs (JR)

  • #3 at 190lbs

And on the in-state front, keep tabs on these local prospects as well:

Violet Diaz – 105lbs (JR)

  • #21 at 110lbs

Camille Schult – 120lbs (JR)

  • Unranked at 120lbs

Isabella Miller – 130lbs (16U)

  • #15 at 135lbs

Eve Skrocki – 145lbs (16U)

  • #3 at 145lbs

Class of 2027 men’s wrestlers to watch

My comprehensive deep dive into 2027 recruiting for the Iowa men also went up on the site last month.

There, you’ll find detailed information on most of the prospects listed below – though there have been a few additions since.

Regardless, the Iowa coaching staff has reached out to each of these rising juniors since the recruiting contact period opened in mid-June. And they’ll all be in North Dakota this week to strut their stuff in front of the wrestling world.

We’ll start with the national recruits:

Shamus Regan, PA – 126lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • #5 at 120lbs (#22 overall in 2027)

Joe Bachmann, PA – 138lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • #10 at 138lbs (#3 overall in 2027)

Lucas Boe, FL – 157lbs (JR Freestyle + Greco)

  • #15 at 157lbs (#10 overall in 2027)

Jimmy Mastny, IL – 190lbs (JR Freestyle + Greco)

  • #5 at 190lbs (#6 overall in 2027)

And here are your local products who’ve jumped onto Iowa’s early recruiting radar for 2027:

Gage Spurgeon – 126lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • Unranked at 126lbs

Dawson Youngblut – 138lbs (JR Freestyle)

  • Unranked at 138lbs (#29 overall in 2027)

Maximus Dhabolt – 165lbs (JR Freestyle + Greco)

  • Unranked at 165lbs (#49 overall in 2027)

Other names to watch (men/women)

Since we’ve all come this far, I figured I’d leave you with a few more names to watch just for fun.

Most are members of the 2028 class or beyond, and all have some sort of tie to Iowa wrestling.

Chase Karenbauer, PA – 113lbs (16U Boys Freestyle)

  • Class of 2028
  • #3 at 106lbs
  • Has previously visited/camped at Iowa

Hadyn Strittmatter, PA – 132lbs (16U Boys Freestyle + Greco)

Rocco Cassioppi, IL – 138lbs (JR Boys Freestyle + Greco)

  • Class of 2027
  • Unranked at 138lbs (#49 overall in 2027)
  • Younger brother of former Hawkeye wrestlers Tony/Rose Cassioppi, twin brother to Bruno

Bruno Cassioppi, IL – 144lbs (JR Boys Freestyle + Greco)

  • Class of 2027
  • Unranked at 144lbs
  • Younger brother of former Hawkeye wrestlers Tony/Rose Cassioppi, twin brother to Rocco

Mario Hutcherson, PA – 190lbs (16U Boys Freestyle)

  • Class of 2028
  • #19 at 175
  • Has previously visited/camped at Iowa

Peter Mocco, FL – 190lbs (16U Boys Freestyle + Greco)

  • Class of 2028
  • Unranked at 190lbs
  • Younger brother of 2026 Iowa commit Michael Mocco, son of former Hawkeye Steve Mocco

Amalia Djoumessi, IA – 155lbs (16U Girls Freestyle)

  • Class of 2028
  • #23 at 155lbs
  • Younger sister of current Iowa women’s wrestler Kiara Djoumessi

Short time

Alright that should just about do it.

The world’s largest wrestling competition warranted a Hawkeye-centric preview of equal proportions, I think. And some 2000 words later, I feel as though I’ve delivered such – for better or worse.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me this far and/or skipping to the end where you’re reading this now.

I’ll be back with a Fargo wrap-up article once all the action has concluded many moons from this typing. But in the meantime, enjoy the heck out of an incredible week of wrestling.

I know I will.

14
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Women’s Volleyball Opens NCAA Tournament Against USF on Friday – Penn State

Published

14 minutes ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- No. 25 Penn State opens its 45th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament with a first-round match against USF on Friday at Texas’s Gregory Gymnasium. The match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET and will stream on ESPN+.

The winner of Friday’s match advances to play the winner between Texas and Florida A&M in the second round on Saturday.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday, Dec. 5 | 5:30 p.m. ET
No. 25 Penn State (18-12, 12-8 B1G) vs. USF (17-12, 12-4 AAC) | Live Stats | ESPN+

OPENING NOTES
• Penn State is set to open its 45th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. It is the only program in the country to play in all 45 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournaments since the inaugural event in 1981.
• The Nittany Lions received an eight seed in the Austin Region and will play the first and second rounds away from Rec Hall for just the first time since the tournament was expenaded to 64 teams in 1998.
• Friday marks Penn State’s fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and 13th postseason match under Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her fourth season as Penn State head coach. They are 10-2 in the NCAA Tournament under Schumacher-Cawley after going 6-0 and winning the program’s eighth national title last season.
• The Nittany Lions made it to at least the NCAA Regional Semifinal in each of Schumacher-Cawley’s first three seasons as head coach.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• Penn State, which has won eight national titles, including the most recent in 2024, is 116-35 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Penn State has made the National Semifinals 14 times and the National Championship match 11 times.
• USF and Penn State will meet for the first time in the NCAA Tournament, making the Bulls the 76th different postseason opponent for the Nittany Lions. Just eight of those teams have a winning record against Penn State in the NCAA Tournament.

PENN STATE IN ROUND OF 64
• Penn State is 26-0 in the NCAA Tournament round of 64 since the event expanded to 64 teams in 1998.
• The Lions are 78-3 in sets played during that stretch, dropping one set to Howard in 2017, one to Towson in 2021, and one to Yale last season.
• Rec Hall was the venue for 24 of the 26 matches.
• Penn State is 3-0 in the Round of 64 under Schumacher-Cawley, beating UMBC in 2022, Yale in 2023, and Delaware State in 2024.

HOW THEY GOT HERE – PENN STATE
• Penn State earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after going 18-12 overall and 12-8 in the Big Ten.
• The Nittany Lions are one of 14 teams in the nation with four wins over teams ranked in the top 25 of RPI, beating No. 6 Creighton, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 13 USC, and No. 15 Kansas.
• The Nittany Lions helped secure their spot in the NCAA Tournament with four wins in their final five matches, beating Ohio State (3-2), Michigan State (3-0), Maryland (3-0), and Iowa (3-1).

HOW THEY GOT HERE – USF
• USF received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after going 17-12 overall and 12-4 in the American Conference on its way to a second-place finish in the conference standings. The Bulls lost to Tulsa in the semifinal round of the American Conference Tournament.
• The Bulls will play in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. They beat Florida State in the first round that year before falling to Florida in the second round.
• USF’s highest RPI win came in conference play with a sweep over No. 36 Tulsa. The highest non-conference RPI win came in five sets over No. 47 Dayton. They also pushed Purdue to five sets before losing in their season opener.
• Senior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade was named the American Conference Player of the Year for the second-straight season. She was joined on the all-conference team by sophomore setter Raegan Richardson (first team) and junior outside hitter Laila Ivey (second team).

SERIES HISTORY – USF
• Penn State is 3-0 in the all-time series with USF. The teams first played in 1986.
• The Nittany Lions swept all three matches, winning 3-0 in 1986, 1988, and 2015. All three matches were played in Tampa.
• Penn State and USF have never met in the NCAA Tournament.
• Kennedy Martin is the only player on the Penn State roster that has played against USF. She hit .449 with 27 kills, six blocks, and two aces in Florida’s 3-2 win over the Bulls in 2023.

PENN STATE VS. AMERICAN CONFERENCE
• Penn State is 32-4 all-time against current members of American Conference.
• The Nittany Lions have played eight of the 13 teams in the conference and have a winning record against all eight. They are unbeaten against UAB (1-0), Charlotte (1-0), East Caroline (3-0), Memphis (2-0), Rice (3-0), South Florida (3-0), and Wichita State (1-0).

TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
• Eight Penn State players have combined for 50 matches of NCAA Tournament experience.
• Penn State head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley (1999) and assistant coach Megan Hodge Easy (2007, 2008, 2009) combined for four national titles as players at Penn State.

Catherine Burke – 1 match
Ava Falduto – 6 matches
Gillian Grimes – 12 matches
Jordan Hopp – 6 matches (2 Iowa State, 4 Penn State)
Caroline Jurevicius – 6 matches
Kennedy Martin – 5 matches (5 Florida)
Maggie Mendelson – 8 matches (2 Nebraska, 6 Penn State)
Jocelyn Nathan – 6 matches

 

 The 2025 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Toledo Falls in First Round of NCAA Tournament to Indiana, 3-0

Published

31 minutes ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Toledo women’s volleyball team closed out its historic 2025 season by falling to No. 4 seed Indiana in the NCAA Tournament First Round, 3-0 (18-25, 15-25, 17-25) on Thursday evening in Bloomington, Ind.

The Rockets finish the season with a 23-11 record, posting the second-most wins in program history .(1983 – 27 matches)

Sophomore Olivia Heitkamp led the Toledo offense with 11 kills, including five in the first set, for her 19th match this season in double-figures. Redshirt junior Sophie Catalano poured in seven terminations while redshirt sophomore Sierra Pertzborn chipped in six kills of her own.

Senior setter Kelsey Smith tallied 26 assists and a team-high nine digs. Sophomore Grace Freiberger and senior Macy Medors each totaled six digs.

Quoting Head Coach Brian Wright

“We’ve had a pretty special season in the past 11-and-a-half months that I’ve been at Toledo. I am so proud of this team and how they played tonight’s match. This team accomplished many great things this season, from leading the MAC in attendance, to winning their first MAC Tournament championship and playing in their first NCAA Tournament match. I want the team to understand that they are enough and capable to compete with the best teams and programs in this country.”

Senior Anna Alford

(on the 2025 season)

“This group has made Toledo history and it’s been such a great season. We’ve been working so hard for the past 11-and-a-half months and we just wanted a chance to showcase our abilities on the court and the love that this team has for one another.”

Senior Macy Medors

(on the future of the Toledo volleyball program)

“Our program is built on being a family and there is a great atmosphere amongst everyone involved. The younger players will continue that tradition and help Toledo volleyball continue to grow to new heights.”

Key Moments

  • Olivia Heitkamp started the match with a kill as the Rockets and Hoosiers traded points early in the first set. Heitkamp’s fifth kill of the set kept it even, 11-11, before two quick points from Indiana gave the Hoosiers a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. A block from Anna Alford and Heitkamp kept UT within four, 22-18, but a quick 3-0 run for the Hoosiers gave them the set win.

  • Both sides went back-and-forth to begin the second set before Indiana jumped out to a 7-4 lead. A solo block from Jessica Costlow sent the Rockets on a 3-0 run to even the frame, 9-9. The Hoosiers responded with an 8-2 run of their own to take a seven-point advantage, 19-12. Kills from Heitkamp and Sophie Catalano put UT within five, 19-14, but Indiana took the set win with four-straight points.

  • Catalano fired off a kill to give Toledo a lead in the third set, 4-3. A quick 3-0 surge by the Rockets, highlighted by a kill from Sierra Pertzborn and Catalano, kept Toledo ahead, 7-5. Two service aces and two kills from the Hoosiers put IU in front, 12-9, before Heitkamp and Catalano each buried terminations to even the frame, 13-13. Indiana went on a 3-0 run to retake the lead, 17-14. Catalano and Pertzborn combined for a second block to stay within three, 19-16, but the Hoosiers ended the match on a 6-1 run to take the win.

Follow the Rockets
Instagram: Toledo_VB
Twitter/X: Toledo_VB
Facebook: Toledo Volleyball
 





Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Volleyball sweeps Fairmont State in first round of Atlantic Regionals

Published

47 minutes ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


ERIE, Pa. – Indiana (PA) swept Fairmont St. 25-22, 25-19, 25-20 on Thursday at Highmark Events Center in Erie, Pa., in a neutral non-conference matchup.

Indiana (PA) was led by Charlotte Potvin, who posted 13 kills on a team-high .455 hitting percentage, adding four aces and 17.5 points in the three-set win. Delaney Concannon contributed 16 kills with 22 digs, while setter Ellie Rauch dished 45 assists and recorded two service aces.

Jessica Neiman added 14 kills on .464 hitting, while libero Lexi McLanahan finished with 15 digs. Rylee Brown anchored the front row with one solo block and two block assists, totaling three blocks and 2.0 points.

Indiana (PA) hit .268 for the match with 49 kills and 59 digs.

Fairmont St. saw 33 kills from a balanced attack and 49 digs defensively. Outside hitter Joey Borelle recorded 13 kills and seven digs, while Josie Nobbe totaled 11 digs and four kills. Chloe McDaniel added eight kills and four block assists.

The match featured 14 ties and nine lead changes in the opening set before Indiana pulled away late, scoring two straight points from the service line to close it out.

Indiana (PA) improved to 21-8 on the season, while Fairmont St. fell to 23-11.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

Kentucky volleyball tops Wofford in Lexington NCAA tournament bracket

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


Updated Dec. 4, 2025, 11:27 p.m. ET

  • Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated Wofford in three sets to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Brooklyn DeLeye led Kentucky with 14 kills during the first-round victory.
  • Kentucky will now face No. 8 seed UCLA for a spot in the Sweet 16.

LEXINGTON — Top-seeded Kentucky volleyball defeated Wofford in three sets Thursday night at Historic Memorial Coliseum to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Brooklyn DeLeye led the Wildcats with 14 kills.

“This team especially, our depth, is so strong, and I think that just helps in practice,” DeLeye said after the match. “We’re pushing one another. No spot is guaranteed, and I think that’s truly helped us get to this No. 1 seed.”

UK will battle No. 8 seed UCLA Friday at 7 p.m. for a spot in the Sweet 16. UCLA defeated Georgia Tech in five sets Thursday night. A familiar face in former Louisville and current UCLA middle blocker Phekran Kong will sit across the net.



Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

UNI volleyball stuns Utah in NCAA Tournament reverse sweep

Published

3 hours ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


OMAHA, Neb. — Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman and Reese Booth all posted double-double performances for the UNI volleyball team on Thursday as the Panthers rallied from down two sets to none to stun the Utah Utes in the opening round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at D.J. Sokol Arena.

Northern Iowa was unblocked by an 18-4 margin and struggled early out of system in the first two frames, but roared back with a gritty third set win, a fourth set victory thanks to a strong start and a wire-to-wire win in the winner-take-all fifth. The reverse sweep marks the first time UNI has rallied from down 2-0 in an NCAA Tournament match to advance since 2002 against Missouri.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Utah set an early tone with a 6-0 scoring run in the opening frame with a service ace to open the match. The Panthers would struggle offensively with seven attack errors and seven kills on .000 hitting as the Utes tallied a .448 hitting clip with 14 terminations and four blocks en route to a 25-15 win over UNI. Hartman and Isabelle Elliott would record two kills each in the frame.

Northern Iowa would put up a strong fight in the second stanza with 12 kills on .122 hitting. The Panthers used a 4-0 run to tie the set up at 10-10 before the Utes took the lead back with a 3-0 run of its own. UNI would even the score at 18-18 with a 4-0 run on a kill by Molly Shafer, back-to-back aces and a rare termination from Jadyn Petersen, but the Utes, hitting .343 with 12 kills, pulled away for a 25-21 lead and a two-set lead in the match. Dykstra led the Panthers with five kills in the set, with Hartman tallying three terminations.

The Panthers battled the Utes in another tight set in the third frame featuring ten ties and four lead changes. Booth dished out a service ace with Maryn Bixby blocking to give UNI a 9-7 lead as Utah grabbed and held a narrow lead for much of the frame. Northern Iowa would fight back however, led by eight kills from Dykstra and four from Hartman to recapture the lead, survive bonus ball and win the third set, 26-24 on 19 team terminations and .286 hitting.

UNI carried its momentum into set four with a 6-0 scoring run and would lead from start to finish with Dykstra adding an ace for a 9-1 advantage. Utah would chip away at the Panthers’ lead, but a .317 hitting clip by UNI and 19 more team terminations would help push the Panthers across the line, led by eight additional kills from Dykstra and five for Hartman.

In set five, the Panthers continued their momentum with a 5-1 scoring run to begin the decisive frame before Utah closed the gap. Hitting .389 with nine terminations, UNI never relinquished the lead and closed on a 3-0 run, including an ace from Sydney Golden to set up match point with Hartman delivering the winning point for a 15-10 win and the come-from-behind match victory.

Dykstra led the Panthers with career-highs in kills (25) and digs (14), with Hartman notching 19 kills and 11 digs, as Shafer, Bixby and Elliott each tallied six terminations. Booth posted a 32 assist, 11 digs double-double, while Golden notched 18 assists. On defense, Petersen led UNI with 16 digs, as Bixby posted three of the Panthers’ four total blocks on the night.

“I am so proud of this crew,” said UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen. We were a little unsure with this match with so many who haven’t experienced an NCAA Tournament match before. It didn’t look pretty in those first two sets but I felt we never gave up, kept fighting and finding ways to score. They definitely put pressure on us and it was a battle and a fun NCAA Tournament match!”

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • UNI improves to 3-1 all-time against Utah in the first NCAA Tournament matchup between the Panthers and Utes.

  • Northern Iowa is now 18-26 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches. Thursday’s win marks the first time the Panthers have won matches in the tournament in consecutive seasons since 2002 and 2003. The win was also UNI’s first over a Big 12 Conference opponent since 2012 (Kansas State).

  • The Panthers extended their winning streak on the season to 22 matches, the eighth-longest streak in program history.

  • UNI is now 5-5 in five-set matches in the NCAA Tournament with victories in 1999 (Ball State), 2001 (Minnesota), 2002 (Missouri) and 2003 (UC Santa Barbara).

  • Lily Dykstra recorded her fourth 20+ kill match of the year on Thursday (Southern Illinois, Drake, UIC). She has also posted at least eight kills in 29 of 31 matches this season, as well as 18 matches with ten or more terminations and her second career double-double, both coming this year.

  • Cassidy Hartman notched her 26th match this year with ten-plus terminations with her 14th double-double of the season.

  • Reese Booth’s double-double was her ninth of the 2025 season.

 

UP NEXT

The Panthers will face off against the winner of No. 11 and third-seeded Creighton and Northern Colorado on Friday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT at D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 Corn Country).

 

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.





Link

0
Continue Reading

Sports

No. 3 Badgers stifle Panthers to kick off postseason action

Published

4 hours ago

on

December 5, 2025

By


MADISON, Wis. – The No. 3 Wisconsin volleyball team dominated in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, sweeping Eastern Illinois (25-11, 25-6, 25-19) behind another strong performance on the offensive end. 

The Badgers (25-4) advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament with the help of a .435 (47 – 10 – 85) hitting percentage—jumping out of the gates in set one. 

Outside hitter Mimi Colyer continued to lead the way for UW, tallying six kills on eight attempts in set one. The Badgers won 13-of-14 rallies early on to take a 17-3 lead, forcing a Panthers’ (24-8) timeout. 

From there, UW never looked back in the first frame, as right side Grace Egan racked up a kill to put away Eastern Illinois with a 25-11 final score. 

The Badgers put together their best showing of the season in the second set, winning 25-6. The six points allowed were the least by a Wisconsin unit in the rallying scoring era in the NCAA Tournament, dating back to 2007. UW earned four service aces in the set—including a pair from setter Charlie Fuerbringer. 

Wisconsin enjoyed another large run in the second frame, winning seven-straight rallies to go up 19-5. Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres provided a quality spark off of the bench in set two, recording back-to-back kills in the latter half of the frame. The sophomore earned four kills on four attempts, a season-best. 

Eastern Illinois provided a response in the third set, but the Badgers were able to answer quickly to earn the sweep. Middle blocker Tosia Serafinowska concluded the match with her first kill of her postseason career, punching the Badgers’ ticket to a battle with North Carolina tomorrow evening at the UW Field House. 

Colyer tallied double-digit kills for the 16th consecutive match, finishing with 10 on a .562 swinging percentage. Vajagic put together a solid showing in her postseason debut, also accumulating 10 kills to complement her five digs. 

Defensively, libero Kristen Simon was a staple in the back row, as the freshman notched 15 digs—tying her highest total since the Badgers’ match against Indiana on Nov. 9. 

The middle blockers for UW continued to be efficient, as seniors Carter Booth and Alicia Andrew combined for 12 kills and zero hitting errors. 

Fuerbringer did it all for the Badgers to round out the standouts, paced by 35 assists. The sophomore added eight digs, four blocks and a pair of service aces, too. 

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on tonight’s performance): “Really happy with the way we came out and played. We did a lot of good things. Kristen really set the tone behind the service line and was aggressive defensively, getting balls and just hunting, making strong moves.”

(On everyone gaining in-match experience): “You certainly don’t go into the match thinking you’ll empty the bench. We have a lot of people who work hard and when an opportunity presents itself in the NCAA Tournament where you can add year played to their experience, especially in the Field House, that is pretty special.”

Middle Blocker Alicia Andrew (on what went well tonight): “I was really impressed with both Mimi and Kristen. They were really going for it on their serves and it showed. They got the team out of the system a lot and that was so much fun to watch. I think our side out transition game, like Coach mentioned, we were able to be in the system a lot of the time courtesy to Kristen and that was really good.”

Libero Kristen Simon (on continuing to build confidence): “It’s been a process just building up my confidence and going for every ball. Obviously, you find more range and just find more confidence behind the defensive line and just reading your hitters.”

Notes: 

  • With the sweep over EIU, Wisconsin moves to 27-1 all-time in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, and 71-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

  • The match-up against EIU marked the first time the two teams met since 1995. Wisconsin improves 5-2 all-time against the Panthers.

  • For the seventh time this season, the Badgers hit .400 or better (47-10-95). The Badgers outhit EIU .435 to .022.

  • The Badgers surrendered just six points in the second set to EIU making it the lowest point total by an opponent in program history of the NCAA tournament.

  • For the 16th-consecutive match, outside hitter Mimi Colyer totaled double-figure kills. She led the team with 10 kills. The senior is now tied at third in program history with Arlisa Hagan (1991-92) for most consecutive matches with double-digit kill totals.

  • Sophomore Morgan Van Wie made an appearance in the third set as a serving substitute.

  • The 49 digs marks the fourth-highest dig total in a three set match this season for the Badgers.

  • Sophomore Maile Chan recorded her first service ace in the third set.

  • Senior Carter Booth recorded her seventh match without a hitting error. Both totaled seven kills on 11 swings.

  • Libero Kristen Simon led the team with 15 digs. This marks Simon’s 20th match with double-figure digs.

Up Next: The Badgers are back in action tomorrow evening in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament, as they will take on North Carolina at 7:00 p.m. CT at the UW Field House. Wisconsin holds an 8-2 record all-time against the Tar Heels, as the two teams last competed against each other back in 2019. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.



Link

1
Continue Reading
Rec Sports3 minutes ago

Maccabi USA Rugby Looking for U19 Players
Rec Sports11 minutes ago

Studio West 117 Fieldhouse, set to close, is millions in debt — in receivership
Technology12 minutes ago

Animoca Brands Co-Founder & Executive Chairman Yat Siu to Speak at Global Blockchain Show & Global Games Show Abu Dhabi
NIL13 minutes ago

Some thoughts on the Cookie Man and college football’s funniest coaching search so far
Sports14 minutes ago

Women’s Volleyball Opens NCAA Tournament Against USF on Friday – Penn State
Rec Sports19 minutes ago

‘Like a second family’: Providence youth wrestling program kicks off winter season
Rec Sports27 minutes ago

Youth soccer at a crossroads: City weighs whether to keep or relocate Ybor Alvarez fields
Sports31 minutes ago

Toledo Falls in First Round of NCAA Tournament to Indiana, 3-0
Motorsports32 minutes ago

NASCAR antitrust trial: Bob Jenkins testifies about $100M loss and ‘insulting’ charter deal
Rec Sports36 minutes ago

Chery Partners with 2025 Asian Youth Para Games, Taking Center Stage in Global Sports with Passion and Aspiration
Rec Sports43 minutes ago

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners agree to sign Edwin and Holger Quintero from Ecuador side Independiente del Valle | Football News
Sports47 minutes ago

Volleyball sweeps Fairmont State in first round of Atlantic Regionals
Motorsports48 minutes ago

Lexus World Premieres Lexus LFA Concept BEV Sports Car | Lexus | Global Newsroom
Rec Sports51 minutes ago

GREATER CLEVELAND SPORTS COMMISSION TO HOST NIKE FREEZEFEST DEC. 6-7 WELCOMING 219 BOYS VOLLEYBAL | Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
Rec Sports58 minutes ago

FRANKLIN: Douglas G. Wickman | Franklin Observer

Most Viewed Posts

Trending