LMU Women's Tennis Team Concludes Season with Semifinal Appearance The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) women's tennis team concluded its 2026 season with a semifinal appearance in the West Coast Conference (WCC) Women's Tennis Tournament, falling to top-seeded Pepperdine, 4-0, at the Green Valley Country Club in Fairfield, Calif. The loss marked the end of a campaign that saw the Lions secure a 12-10 overall record, highlighted by key conference victories and a deep run in the postseason tournament. Pepperdine seized control of the match early in doubles play, claiming both courts one and two to establish an immediate 1-0 lead. The Waves secured the first point with a dominant 6-0 victory on court one, followed by a 6-2 win on court two. The third doubles match remained unfinished at the time of the clinch, with LMU holding a narrow edge. This momentum carried over into singles play, where Pepperdine extended its lead with decisive wins. Sonja Zhiyenbayeva of Pepperdine secured the Waves’ second point with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Kim-Michaela Zahraj on court three. Pepperdine then closed out the match with back-to-back singles wins, starting with Chantal Sauvant’s 6-4, 6-1 triumph at the No. 4 position. Duru Soke completed the sweep with a 6-2, 6-4 win on court five, sealing the 4-0 result. Despite the loss, LMU’s performance throughout the tournament showcased resilience. Several matches remained competitive but unfinished at the time of the clinch. Lidia Gonzalez battled on court one after dropping a tight opening set, while Ada Piestrzynska pushed her match into a third set on court two. Camilia Samel-Druz also remained in a closely contested match at No. 6 when play was halted.#west_coast_conference #lmu #pepperdine #green_valley_country_club #fairfield_calif
Randy Bennett named Arizona State basketball coach after 25 seasons at Saint Mary's Randy Bennett has been appointed as the new head coach for Arizona State’s men’s basketball team, marking a major coaching transition in college basketball. The 63-year-old veteran, who spent 25 years leading Saint Mary’s, will leave the Gaels after guiding them to consistent success as a mid-major program. His final game with Saint Mary’s was a 63-50 loss to No. 10 seed Texas A&M in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Bennett’s tenure at Saint Mary’s began in 2001, when he took over a program with limited NCAA Tournament history. During his time, the Gaels became a regular presence in March Madness, qualifying for the Big Dance 12 times. The team achieved at least 26 wins in each of the past five seasons and reached the Sweet 16 in 2010 as a 10th seed. His overall record of 589-228 includes 7 West Coast Conference regular season titles and 4 tournament championships. Bennett also mentored future NBA stars like Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova. Saint Mary’s became a dominant force in the West Coast Conference, often competing with Gonzaga and defeating the Bulldogs. The program’s ability to consistently send two teams to the NCAA Tournament was rare for mid-majors. Bennett’s success earned him a reputation as one of the most effective coaches in the conference, with over 75% of his games resulting in wins. Bennett’s move to Arizona State comes after 11 seasons under Bobby Hurley, during which the Sun Devils struggled to maintain competitiveness. Arizona State made the NCAA Tournament only three times under Hurley, all as a No. 11 seed, and its last major achievement was a Sweet 16 run in 1995.#ncaa_tournament #west_coast_conference #arizona_state #saint_mary_s #randy_bennett
Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary’s prediction Thursday: Round of 64 pick, odds, best bet for March Madness Saint Mary’s will make its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in its first-round matchup against Texas A&M on Thursday. The South region’s seventh-seeded Gaels are 3-1 in those first-round appearances, and enter the tournament with a 27-5 record after tying Gonzaga for the West Coast Conference regular season title. The 10th-seeded Aggies, who opened as 2.5-point underdogs, will make their fourth straight trip to the dance with a 2-1 record in their opening games in that span. They finished their regular season tied for fourth in the SEC standings at a 21-11 mark under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan. McMillan deserves some credit for a winning season after former head coach Buzz Williams took pretty much everyone on the roster with him to Maryland. The Aggies face a tough draw, as Saint Mary’s outsizes them significantly. Size was a recurring issue for Texas A&M throughout the season, as McMillan had to rely on small-ball strategies with 6-foot-7 center Rashaun Agee. Here, they’ll contend with the 13th-biggest team in the nation, anchored by 7-foot-3 Andrew McKeever and multiple players standing at 6-foot-7. Interior scoring will be challenging for A&M, and defensive rebounding will be a steep uphill battle. Saint Mary’s is ranked in the top 15 in both rebounds and rebounding percentage with an astounding plus-11 rebound margin. Texas A&M allows 32.5 percent of its own missed shots to be grabbed by the opposition. Even if shooting is equal, Saint Mary’s is likely to get more opportunities, and in a tournament setting, possessions matter. An upset for the Aggies would depend on how well they can force turnovers and create chaos with pace and pressure.#west_coast_conference #saint_marys #texas_amg #bucky_mcmillan #andrew_mckeever
Michigan Basketball Assistant Coach to Take Head Coaching Role at Oregon State Michigan Wolverines basketball assistant coach Justin Joyner is set to leave his position at the university to become the head coach at Oregon State, according to multiple reports. The move, which appears to be finalized, follows months of speculation about Joyner’s future. Joyner, who has spent two seasons with the Wolverines, is expected to join Oregon State’s coaching staff after the conclusion of the current academic year. His transition marks a significant step in his career, moving from an assistant role to a head coaching position. The decision comes amid a period of change for the Oregon State program, which is navigating a shift from the Pac-12 to the West Coast Conference. Joyner’s wife, Tracy, serves as the University of Oregon women’s soccer coach, creating a strong personal and professional connection to the state of Oregon. This familial link, combined with his familiarity with the West Coast Conference, is likely to play a key role in his success at Oregon State. In Ann Arbor, Joyner has contributed to the Wolverines’ recent success, including a Big Ten Tournament title last season and a regular season championship this year. The team also reached the Sweet Sixteen in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. His tenure at Michigan followed a seven-year stint at Saint Mary’s College, where he helped the Gaels compile a 171-60 overall record and an 83-24 conference mark over seven seasons. Joyner’s coaching journey began after his collegiate career at UC Santa Barbara, where he was a three-time team captain. He initially worked as an individual skill development coach and later joined the AAU circuit before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations at Saint Mary’s in 2017.#michigan_wolverines #justin_joyner #oregon_state #west_coast_conference #tracy_joyner
