Down the line: Kellam grad sparks Stevenson University to first national beach volleyball championship
Abby Bruce, a 2019 Kellam High graduate, helped Stevenson University of Owings Mills, Maryland, win its first American Volleyball Coaches Association DIII Small College National Championship in beach volleyball last weekend.
Stevenson was the first Division III member to form a program in beach volleyball, one of the NCAA’s newest sports, and the Mustangs have been playing for seven years.
In a sport scored like tennis — each clash of two-person tandems is worth one team point — Stevenson shut out Hendrix 4-0 in the April 16 final in Tavares, Florida. Bruce’s match that day did not finish.
But on pool play April 15, Bruce and partner Olivia Simon of Bel Air, Maryland, competed three times as the Mustangs beat three consecutive opponents to qualify for the championship final.
Bruce and Simon won 21-5, 21-9 on line 3 in a 5-0 sweep against LaGrange of Georgia. Bruce and Simon lost in three sets during the Mustangs’ 3-2 triumph against Berry of Georgia, but the pair won 21-15, 21-19 on line 3 in a 4-1 victory over Huntingdon of Alabama.
For the season, Stevenson’s team was 19-9 against foes from Divisions I, II and III. Bruce is the only Hampton Roads player on the roster and one of its three Virginians.
Former Hokie to host youth football camp at Cox
Former Clemson and Virginia Tech defensive lineman Jordan Williams will host a youth football camp April 30 for first- through ninth-graders at Cox High in Virginia Beach, where Williams, an NFL prospect, starred before heading to college. The cost is $25.
Norfolk Sports Club arranges forum of football coaches
The Norfolk Sports Club will present a football coaches forum Monday at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.
The NSC says the forum will feature head coaches and staffs from Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Norfolk State. If all the head coaches appear, newcomers Brent Pry of the Hokies and Tony Elliott of the Cavaliers would join ODU’s Ricky Rahne and NSU’s Dawson Odums.
A cash bar and snacks are planned for 5 p.m., with the program to start at 6. Tickets are $26 and must be purchased in advance at https://square.link/u/FpJsJ1UT before arriving. Dress is casual.
Bayside grad added to CFL Lions’ roster for training camp
Former Bayside High and Virginia Cavaliers standout running back Taquan Mizzell, who has NFL experience, was added to the training-camp roster of the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions, who are based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
CFL training camps will begin in mid-May.
Local tennis player headed to Deaflympics in Brazil
Alfredo Galvez of Virginia Beach, who grew up in Peru and starred in tennis for Norfolk State, soon will be representing the United States at the international Deaflympics.
The competition is similar to the Olympics and is for athletes with documented hearing trouble. This year’s Deaflympics are set for Caxias do Sul, Brazil, starting May 3.
The USA Deaf Sports Federation selected Galvez and Kevin Kovacs of Pleasanton, California, to represent the U.S. in men’s singles and doubles.
Galvez has tuned up locally for the Deaflympics, including taking on standout junior player Nolan Macedo on Friday night in an exhibition at Cape Henry Racquet Club. Macedo is the son of longtime successful Virginia Wesleyan men’s basketball coach Dave Macedo.
W&M sophomore gains Elite 90 honor
Alek Kuzmenchuk, a sophomore at William & Mary, won the Elite 90 award for the recent 2022 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship meet.
Kuzmenchuk, who is majoring in international relations and carries a 3.98 grade-point average, was presented with the award during the championship banquet in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, is presented to the athlete with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s championships. Athletes must have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school.
What’s coming up
Tuesday: One of the most anticipated college baseball games of the year comes to Harbor Park when No. 11 Virginia faces Old Dominion at 6 p.m. The Cavaliers will try to avenge a regular-season loss in Charlottesville to ODU, the team they beat to win an NCAA region championship in 2021.
Thursday: In softball, Bryant & Stratton plays host to Louisburg in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
Friday: In baseball series openers, Norfolk State plays host to Delaware State at 3 p.m., before William & Mary plays host to Hofstra at 5.
Saturday: Guilford comes to Virginia Wesleyan for a noon baseball doubleheader.
