Volleyball Today: April Ross retiring; NCAA updates; AVCA top 25; AU results

NCAA Division I volleyball takes a back seat in this edition of Volleyball Today, which includes a retirement from beach volleyball by April Ross, Athletes Unlimited wrapping up its second week, what happened Monday and what will Tuesday in the aforementioned NCAA, plus the latest AVCA top 25, NCAA RPI and Athletes Unlimited recap.

April Ross retiring from beach volleyball 

The Tokyo Olympic gold medalist put the following statement on social media. It includes a lot of emojis, which we’ve left in:

It is with a very fulfilled and grateful heart, and also some tears, that I am announcing my retirement (after the end of this @avpbeach League season). 18 years, 16 seasons, four quads 

 I’m glad I can say I lived it to the fullest and that it was an absolute BLAST. At the same time, I’m in disbelief it’s (almost) over, it feels like it went by in a heartbeat.

There were lots of ups 

 and a few downs, a lot of it was tough emotionally and mentally, but it was all so rewarding and worth it. What an intensely amazing experience. I feel so so lucky to have had this career 

 When I started back in 2006 I could have never allowed myself to dream of doing the things I can now say I have done. All I wanted to do was see the world

 I never would have guessed picking up beach volleyball at 26 would lead to all this. 

It feels both easy and hard for me to step away from playing. After all the hard work I put into gearing up for this season after giving birth and making a big push to be ready for The League, I know I could keep playing. But I have the overwhelming feeling that I’ve done all I need to do as an athlete. My motivation has been satisfied and it’s time to chase other passions. I also cannot imaging traveling to tournaments and spending that much time away from Ross and my family anymore 

I owe SO much to the people who guided me along the way. There are far too many to name, but this journey would not have been what it was without @jenniferkessy in so many ways 

. And I’m so thankful for each of my baller partners over the years 

 I have so much love for my family and friends who bought in at 110% and supported me the whole way, it wouldn’t have been anywhere close to as meaningful without you guys, SO many awesome memories 

Thank you @alixklineman for playing this season with me, it wouldn’t have felt right any other way 

 and I will cherish every point we still get to play this year 

And lastly, THANK YOU to all of you who have supported and cheered me on along the way, it has been so fun sharing my journey with you 

 I hope you will keep following along for what’s next! 

AVCA top 25

Like the VolleyballMag Super 16 Media Poll, Pittsburgh remained No. 1, but No. 2 Nebraska closed the gap. Pitt got 41 first-place votes, Nebraska 19, and No. 3 Penn State got one. 

For that matter, the top 11 spots stayed exactly the same. Utah jumped in at No. 20 and Washington, which was No. 24, dropped out.

Click here for the complete AVCA Division I Women’s Volleyball Poll.

NCAA volleyball RPI

The RPI gives quite a different look. Louisville is No. 1, followed by Nebraska, Creighton, Pitt and Penn State.

The next five are Stanford, Texas, Oregon, SMU and Kansas.

Here is the link to view the NCAA RPI and where all 346 teams stand.

NCAA volleyball Monday, Tuesday

There are four matches on Tuesday’s schedule, Stetson at FGCU in the ASUN, SIUE at Eastern Illinois in the Ohio Valley, Utah State at Nevada in the Mountain West and LIU of the NEC at Saint Peters of the Metro Atlantic.

There were eight matches Monday, including Northern Iowa (12-7, 7-0) sweeping visiting Drake (10-8, 6-1) in a battle of the only teams previously unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play. Cassidy Hartman led the Panthers with 16 kills and had just one error in 30 attacks to hit .500 to go with six digs and a block. Drake hit .021 … Also in the Valley, Illinois State (11-9, 6-1) kept pace with a five-set victory at Bradley (10-9, 5-2). Samantha Bunch had 40 digs, nine assists and an ace, Aida Shadewald had 19 kills, an assist, two aces, 12 digs and three blocks, one solo. Bunch’s dig total was a career high and the eighth time a player has had 40 or more digs this season. Cal’s Peyton DeJardin had 45 against Syracuse on Sunday, according to the NCAA … 

Utah Valley swept Seattle U in the WAC as Sami Blackett had 16 kills, an assist, three aces and seven digs … 

In the SWAC, Florida A&M (15-5, 7-0), the only team in the league with an overall winning record, hit .487 and 12 players had kills in a sweep of Alcorn as the Rattleres maintained its hold on first … Prairie View (9-13, 6-1) kept pace as it swept at Arkansas-Pine Bluff 

  Bethune-Cookman beat Southern in four despite 24 kills by SU’s Jordan Felix, who had 10 digs and a block … Alabama A&M swept Mississippi Valley as Fatima Ramirez had 11 kills, hit .391, and had two assists, an ace, 12 digs and a solo block … Texas Southern won in four at Grambling as Gracie Hill had 15 kills, an ace, nine digs and three blocks.

Athletes Unlimited: Nootsara and Abercrombie notch wins

In the first match Monday in Mesa, Arizona, Team Nootsara defeated Team Caffey 73-70. Read the recap here.

In the nightcap, Team Abercrombie defeated Team De La Cruz-Mejia 71-54. Read the recap here.

Brittany Abercrombie is the overall points leader and Bethania De La Cruz-Mejias is second. They and Leketor Member-Meneh and Dani Drews will be next week’s captains.

Emily and Lee on their weekly NCAA Zoom 

In case you missed it:

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