Pitt back in Sweet 16

PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh women’s volleyball team is heading to the NCAA Division I regional semifinals for the sixth consecutive season.

Pitt advanced by sweeping Michigan, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18, in front of 4,149 fans at the Petersen Events Center on Saturday.

Freshman Abbey Emch, who was an All-Ohioan at Crestview High School, contributed three kills, three blocks, one assist and two digs in the victory.

In the tournament opener on Friday, Pittt beat UMBC, 25-10, 25-17, 25-13, Friday.

Emch totaled eight kills in 12 attacks. She also had six blocks.

The Panthers will host the NCAA Regional this Thursday and Saturday. In the semifinals Thursday, the Panthers will face fourth-seed Minnesota (24-9) at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, followed by second-seeded SMU (27-5) and third-seeded Purdue (26-6) at 9:30 p.m.

Oiler season comes to end

ST. LOUIS — University of Findlay sophomore and Crestview High School graduate Grace Auer saw her volleyball season come to an end with a 25-20, 18-25, 23-25, 23-25 loss to Indianapolis in the regional semifinal of the NCAA Div. II volleyball tournament on Friday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Auer had one kills and eight digs in four sets.

The Oilers finished the season at 24-6.

Candle goes to UConn

ALLIANCE — It was an interesting weekend for a trio of former Mount Union players and coaches.

The day after Matt Campbell was named the new Penn State head coach, Toledo head coach Jason Candle and defensive coordinator Vince Kehres were announced at their new schools Saturday.

Candle, a 1998 graduate of West Branch High School, is replacing Jim Mora as head coach at Connecticut. Candle and UConn agreed to a six-year deal through the 2031 season. He will be officially announced at a press conference today.

Candle concluded his 10th season as Toledo’s head coach, guiding the Rockets to an 8-4 record in 2025.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jason Candle as the next head coach of UConn Football,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said. “Jason’s track record speaks for itself–he is the winningest coach in Toledo history with 81 victories, two MAC Championships, and a program that has consistently competed at the highest level. He has built a culture of excellence both on and off the field, developing young men who succeed at the next level. Jason’s ability to recruit elite talent, develop players, and win championships makes him the ideal leader for our football program.

Candle already has started his new job and will not coach Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 23.

Kehres will be defensive coordinator at Syracuse after six years in the same position at Toledo. There were reports Kehres interviewed for the Nebraska defensive coordinator opening.

A Broyles Award nominee, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach, Keheres’ defense has held its opponents to 14 or fewer points in eight of their 12 games this season.

“Vince has a championship pedigree and has consistently led some of the top defenses in college football,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said. “In talking with him for the last month and a half, I’ve learned our vision about football and the development of young men align. We see the game very similarly and are both extremely competitive.”

Kehres, a 1994 graduate of Alliance High School, was a player or coach in 12 in Mount Union’s 13 NCAA Division III national championships.