Gauchos volleyball season ends in hard-fought Big West semifinal loss to top seed UC Davis

KEYT on November 29, 2025

Mike Klan

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – Regular-season champion UC Davis defeated fourth-seeded UC Santa Barbara 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 29-27, 27-25) on Friday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in the semifnal reound of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship.

The victory advances the top-seeded Aggies to a 21-6 mark on the season and a place in their first Big West Championship finale, where they will take on the winner of the semifinal matchup between No. 2 Cal Poly and No. 3 Long Beach State. UC Davis split the regular-season series against the Beach and fell on the road against the Mustangs for their only two blemishes in league action.

UC Davis narrowly captured the opening set against UCSB, ending 25-23. The Aggies capitalized on service errors by UCSB, contributing to their early lead. Ally Chandler’s decisive kill, assisted by Mia Starr, sealed the set for UC Davis, despite a late surge by UCSB led by Eva Travis’ two kills.

The Gauchos were able to knot the score in the second, taking a 25-23 set victory. UC Davis mounted a late rally in the frame, clawing back from a 23-18 deficit to tie at 23, with Big West Libero of the Year Ximena Cordero Barr holding serve.However, UC Santa Barbara sealed the set with a timely kill by Travis and a decisive service ace from Cortni Youngblood. U

UC Davis captured the third set 29-27, overcoming a late challenge by UCSB after the Gauchos erased a 20-17 deficit to take the lead at 25-24 and again at 27-26 on decisive strikes from Travis. The set concluded with Big West Player of the Year Jade Light and Allie Caldwell’s combining for the final three points of the sest. A kill off the hand of Light tied the score at 27-all, then Light and Caldwell combined on the block of an Emma McDermott attept before Caldwell’s decisive kill finalized the tense back-and-forth contest.

The teams again played to extra points in the fourth, with the set punctuated by 20 ties and eight lead changes in the 27-25 frame. UC Davis gained momentum with service aces from Rachel Dunagan and Light, pivotal blocks from Mia Starr and Chandler, while Light and Brooke Hibino combined for crucial kills. Despite UCSB’s attempts to rally, including kills by Travis and Layanna Green, UC Davis secured the win to advance to the finale.

Big West Setter of the Year Starr led UC Davis with an impressive 40 assists and contributed defensively with 21 digs. Light proved to be effective in scoring, amassing 19 total points, with a 15 kills, 10 dig double-double. Cordero Barr closed with 16 digs as the Aggies saw five players reach double-figure dig efforts. UC Davis recorded nine service aces while posting 73 digs in the match.

Travis led the Gauchos with a match-best 24 kills to set a new Big West Championship record. The trio of Jordyn Johnson (6 blocks), McDermott (five, three solo) and Kiersten Schmitt (five) were a force at the net as the Gachos held a 14 to nine block advantage. Big West Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez registered 19 digs in the match. UCSB caps the season at 23-9.

(Article courtesy Big West)

Click here to follow the original article.

Cal Poly advances to Big West Volleyball final with 4 set win over LBSU

KEYT on November 29, 2025

Mike Klan

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) – After a high-octane match, second-seeded Cal Poly earned the 3-1 victory over No. 4 seed Long Beach State, 3-1, in the semifinal round of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship.

The Mustangs advance to their second-straight Big West Championship finale to take on top-seeded UC Davis on Saturday at 5 o’clock from LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. The two met just once this season, a four-set decision that favored the Mutsangs back on Oct. 25 as part of CP’s undefeated home run.

Cal Poly secured the victory with set scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, and 25-17. The team posted a .302 hitting percentage, led by 65 kills, 61 assists and five aces to knock the hosts out of the bracket and improve to 24-7 on the season.

Cal Poly secured the first set 25-22 after a competitive exchange, highlighted by solid blocking and timely service aces. Chloe Leluge and Emme Bullis were instrumental, with Leluge contributing multiple kills and Bullis assisting on numerous points. Cal Poly’s defense, including key blocks by Annabelle Thalken and Leluge, was effective in closing out the set.

LBSU opened the second set with a strong 4-0 lead, capitalizing on two early kills by Nieko Thomas. Despite a late rally by Cal Poly, highlighted by Thalken’s three kills, the Beach maintained the edge with effective blocking, including a crucial block by Logan King and Thomas, ultimately securing the set 25-23. The Mustangs showed resilience, narrowing the gap with a series of kills from Emma Fredrick and Leluge, but fell short as Long Beach State’s Rhiann Sheffie clinched the set with a final strike.

The third frame saw an impressive battle throughout with six lead changes and 12 ties as both squads hit .500 or better in the set. In the end, the Mustangs edged the Beach 25-23 in the third, overcoming a late deficit with clutch plays. Thalken contributed crucial kills throughout, including one that tied the score at 21-21, while Leluge’s decisive kill gave the Mustangs a 24-23 lead. Bullis sealed the set with a kill, capitalizing on an assist from Elif Hurriyet.

The Mustangs secured the fourth set 25-17 against the Beach, fueled by a string of decisive plays. Ella Scott’s service ace and Leluge’s blocking contributed to a 5-0 run, building an early advantage. Leluge recorded multiple kills from Bullis’ assists, further widening the gap and ensuring the set victory.

Bullis was a key playmaker recording 51 assists, with Leluge leading the attack with 17 kills and a .533 hitting percentage. Thalken (15 kills, .382 hitting), Fredreick (15 kills, 13 digs) and Kendall Beshear (10 kills, 10 digs) made notable impacts to the stat sheet. Hurriyet led the defensive efforts with 18 digs, playing a crucial role in the back row.

For the Beach, senior Elise Agi stood out withamassing 17 kills and 11 digs with a service ace. Setter Madi Maxwell was instrumental, distributing 39 assists and recording 19 digs,with Thomas making a defensive mark with five total blocks while adding seven kills on 12 swings and no errors to hit .583. King contributed 13 kills and three blocks, with Sheffie tallying 11 kils with a pair of blocks in the match. The Beach close the season at 22-9.

(Article courtesy of Big West)

Click here to follow the original article.

Clutch free throws by Little lead UCSB past Lehigh at Resorts World Las Vegas Classic

KEYT on November 29, 2025

Mike Klan

LAS VEGAS, Nevada. (KEYT) -The UC Santa Barbara Men’s Basketball team snuck out of the first round of The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic with a 72-70 win over Lehigh, Friday afternoon. The Gauchos shot 87.5 percent from the charity stripe in the game and crashed the offensive glass en route to the win.

HOW IT HAPPENEDLehigh grabbed the opening lead after a few missed shots and turnovers by the Gauchos led to a 7-2 lead for the Mountain Hawks. As the half progressed, the Gauchos fought hard on the defensive end of the ball to keep the score manageable. Hosana Kitenge broke a scoring drought for the Gauchos, and after drawing a few fouls, the Gauchos cut the lead to three with the help of free throws.

Midway through the first half, the Gauchos cut the lead to two after more free throws by the Gauchos, this time courtesy of Colin Smith. The teams went on a stretch of trading baskets through the middle part of the half. Lehigh then went on a 6-0 run to build their lead to double-digits. The double-digit lead did not last long as UC Santa Barbara started to force turnovers, which led to fast break opportunities that they capitalized on, cutting the lead back to four.

In the final four minutes of the opening half, the Gauchos cut the lead to two and then took their first lead of the game with 1:10 left after Aidan Mahaney drilled a wide-open three to give the Gauchos a 33-32 lead. Unfortunately, a foul and two made free throws gave the Mountain Hawks the lead back as the Gauchos would end up trailing 34-33 at the break.

The Gauchos came out of halftime and reclaimed the lead quickly, proceeding to go on an 8-0 run. run. Zion Sensley was instrumental in the run, grabbing three offensive rebounds in the first two and a half minutes. The Gauchos built their lead up to seven, their biggest of the game. Throughout the second half, the Gauchos continued to crash the boards and draw fouls. Despite the 8-0 run, Lehigh stayed within one or two possessions after hitting some three pointers and making their free throws when fouled.

At 9:22, Lehigh tied the game after making two free throws and from that point on, it was a fight for the lead. The Gauchos pulled ahead by six, but Lehigh then made a run of seven points to regain the lead for the first time since halftime with 3:24 to play. Both teams were solid on their free throw shooting, which kept the game tight until the very end. After Lehigh tied the game on a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. Miro Little raced down the floor and got fouled on a take to the basket. He buried both to give the Gauchos a two-point lead with three seconds remaining.

Lehigh got off a last-second three-point shot but hit the back iron, and the Gauchos won 72-70 over the Mountain Hawks.

NOTABLESThe teams shot the exact same (11-26) in the first half.Miro Little was perfect from the charity stripe, making 10-of-10. Half of his points came from the free throw line.The Gauchos grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the win, their second most this season. UC Santa Barbara has now grabbed double-digit offensive boards in seven straight games to open the season.This was the first win over a Patriot League opponent for Head Coach Joe Pasternack since taking over the reins of UC Santa Barbara Men’s Basketball.For the third time this season, the Gauchos have turned the ball over less than 10 times. They are 2-1 in which they do so.

UP NEXTUC Santa Barbara will now play for The Resorts World Las Vegas Classic Championship tomorrow, Nov. 29 at 1:30 p.m. The game will be streamed through FloCollege with live stats available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gauchos blow out host at CBU Classic

KEYT on November 29, 2025

Mike Klan

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KEYT) -The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball Team put on their own kind of Black Friday blowout at California Baptist’s Fowler Events Center, riding a three-point barrage to a 74-49 victory over the Lancers in the first round of this weekend’s CBU Classic in Riverside. It is the Gauchos’ first win over California Baptist in six tries (all since the Lancers moved up to the Division-I level in 2018) and puts an end to the Lancers’ perfect start to the season. Both Santa Barbara and CBU are now 5-1 on the year.

The Gauchos shot 48.48% from deep on Friday, making 16 of their 33 long-range attempts, both season highs. Both Zoe Shaw and Jessica Grant had 15-point outings with all of their points coming from behind the arc, while Zoe Borter led the offense with 19 points (helped by an efficient 3-for-4 three-point outing herself). Not to be overlooked among the flurry of threes, the Gauchos also held CBU to just 12% from beyond the arc and a season-low 49 points, with Santa Barbara gobbling up a season-high 41 rebounds off all those misses.

FROM HEAD COACH RENEE JIMENEZ”That’s a great win for our team,” Jimenez said. “We were incredibly intentional and focused on our defense and rebounding, the two things we knew we needed to do to beat such a talented team like California Baptist. I thought from the very start we were locked in and came ready to play and I think that showed on both ends of the floor today.”

HOW IT HAPPENEDThe Lancers made the first basket of the game, and that was the last time they led. It took a couple of possessions for the Gauchos to get their first shot to go, but after Skyler Burke’s three gave Santa Barbara the lead with 7:30 to play in the quarter, they never looked back. Grant and Borter added makes of their own to put together an 8-0 run in less than a minute for the Gauchos, and while the Lancers were able to get back within two, Santa Barbara put together another 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 10 points. At the end of the first, the Gauchos were doubling up their hosts, 18-9.

Santa Barbara continued building their lead in the second as the teams traded buckets but neither could go on a massive run. For much of the quarter, it was the Zoe Borter show for the Gauchos, the senior tallying the first 10 of her team’s 18 points in the frame. After the Lancers had cut the lead to five, she was the one to prevent a run with a bucket of her own, then a three the next time down to put Santa Barbara clear by double digits again. The trading continued, with CBU getting within six before Borter again scored on back-to-back possessions. The Gauchos’ other Zoe, Zoe Shaw, chipped in a three of her own to make it the largest lead of the half, 31-17, with 4:28 left before the break. At the interval, Santa Barbara’s lead was 13, thanks to Maddie Naro hitting a three for the final bucket of the half.

After shooting 57.1% from three in the first half, the Gauchos refused to cool off in the second, with Shaw hitting the first shot of the third quarter from nowhere other than beyond the arc. Olivia Bradley hit a three the next time down and Shaw drained another as it was all Aussies early, but it was Borter to finally get Santa Barbara’s lead up to 20 points for the first time, hitting her third three of the game with 6:34 left in the quarter. The Gauchos had the Lancers reeling as Naro swiped the ball and set up Grant for a three right after the timeout CBU had taken following Borter’s three, forcing a second straight timeout from the hosts. For the remainder of the quarter, Santa Barbara stayed 18 or more points ahead of CBU, and heading into the fourth, the Gauchos held a 56-38 lead.

That advantage never dropped below 17 points in the final frame, and Santa Barbara was at least 20 points ahead for the final 5:55 of the game. Ava Rawlins and Bojana Radnjic both got minutes in the final frame and added their names to the scoresheet, with Radnjic giving the Gauchos their largest lead of the game at 27 points in the final minute.

UP NEXTWith the win, Santa Barbara advances to the championship game of the four-team CBU Classic, to be played at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 from the Fowler Events Center in Riverside. The Gauchos will face Chattanooga in Saturday’s championship, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics)

Click here to follow the original article.

Team distributes blankets, clothing and care kits to people experiencing homelessness

CNN Newsource on November 29, 2025

By Tori Mason

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — As temperatures prepare to drop this weekend, two neighbors in Aurora are racing to get blankets, clothing and care kits into the hands of people who have nowhere to go.

Nieves Ministries, a community outreach group, operates out of a small office stacked with pallets of blankets, donated clothes and hygiene kits.

For founder, Alex Nieves, the mission is personal.

The organization was inspired by his friend, James Feller, who was helping him build the ministry before dying from an overdose.

“These are actually his clothes right here,” Nieves said. “We just got them from a friend who washed them for us. James helped us set all this in motion.”

Nieves has experienced homelessness himself – the cold, the uncertainty, and the reality of trying to survive while managing trauma and loss.

During winter months, local shelters in the Denver metro area open beds through cold weather activation. But space is tight.

“They have a limited amount of beds,” Nieves explained. “Sometimes they’re doing more overflow than they can handle.”

In Denver, Cold Weather Shelter activation occurs when overall shelter system capacity is exceeded and one of the following criteria is met:

A Cold Weather Advisory, Extreme Cold Watch, or Warning is issued by the National Weather Service Forecasted overnight low temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below Forecasted snowfall of two or more inches in Denver Nieves Ministries tries to fill those gaps by dropping off pallets of blankets where they’re needed.

“Last week, we gave them about five pallets,” he said. “The Rescue Mission gets about two or three every other week.”

Smaller grassroots groups are trying to pick up the slack. Most of the ministry’s work is paid for out of pocket.

Some sponsors chip in. Denver Auto Gallery donates $200 every time a car is sold, but the bulk of the outreach is sustained by the founders themselves.

Donations come from a number of sources who drop off everything from winter coats to unopened hygiene products.

Trey Banks with the ministry says demand has surged. He says even with warmer-than-usual fall weather, outreach workers are seeing people living in tents and using tarps for shelter.

“When we see stuff like that, we encourage them to come down to the office,” he said. “We offer clothes, blankets, socks, and amenity kits with toothbrushes and self-care items.”

Those amenity kits, often stuffed with socks, lotions, ear plugs, toothbrushes and basic toiletries, fill plastic bins in the group’s workspace and the bed of their truck.

They say the work wouldn’t be possible without giving hearts.

“Support is everything in a time of need,” Banks said. “Especially when people are facing uncertainty. Community is everything.”

Nieves said his own experience, and the losses he carries, motivate him to step in where systems fall short. They hope to expand their space to serve even more families.

In Denver, families in need of shelter must go in person with their children to the Inn at the Highlands, 2601 Zuni St, to access services.

According to the city, vouchers will no longer be issued over the phone. Intake hours for family shelter vouchers begin at 7 a.m. on the day the shelter is activated.

Voucher capacity has been expanded, and staffing at the Connection Center has increased to better serve families experiencing literal homelessness. If motel voucher capacity is reached, a dedicated family congregate shelter will be opened as backup when needed.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

North Texas family shares emotional journey caring for mother with Alzheimer’s

CNN Newsource on November 29, 2025

By Briseida Holguin

Click here for updates on this story

    TEXAS (KTVT) — November marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month as more than 7 million Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Texans, live with the disease, and families like the Scotts are urging others to seek help early.

CBS News Texas’ Briseida Holguin sat down with the Scott family, who has spent the past two years learning what it means to care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.

Lamia Scott said her mother, Marvie, was diagnosed two years ago. The change was swift and painful.

“Someone who was once always sweet, kind, and caring to everyone was now just rude,” Scott said.

Marvie is one of an estimated 460,000 Texans over age 65 living with Alzheimer’s. About a year ago, Scott learned her mother also has agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia — a condition the Alliance for Aging Research says affects about 44% of Alzheimer’s patients.

Scott described agitation as taking many forms, including pacing, restlessness, or sudden anger. For her mother, it’s even more specific.

“My mom’s key agitations are wandering, repetitive questions, hoarding,” she said.

But navigating these symptoms wasn’t easy. Scott said she struggled to find resources and now wishes she had spoken up sooner.

“Had I reported this a long time ago, her doctor could have given me resources, or given me other outlets and things that I could have done to help manage that,” she said. “But I’ll be honest, I was sad and a little embarrassed that I was experiencing these things with my mom, that I didn’t reach out for help to anyone.”

A study from the Alliance for Aging Research found that 32% of caregivers feel reluctant to talk to healthcare professionals about agitation because they feel guilty.

Scott hopes others won’t wait.

“The longer you wait to seek help or to ask questions, the tougher and the harder it’s going to get,” she said.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Friday Football Focus: CIF Championship Night Arroyo Grande, Pacifica and Grace win titles

KEYT on November 29, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

Segment 1: Arroyo Grande 23, Bakersfield 20 (OT). Eagles win CIF-Central Section Division 2 Championship

Immanuel 48, Templeton 7: CIF-CS Division 4 Championship

Segment 2: Pacifica 20, Palos Verdes 10. Tritons win CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Championship

Grace 48, Santa Paula 16. Lancers win CIF-Southern Section Division 12 Championship

Click here to follow the original article.

Thieves point guns at Chicago firefighters while trying to steal car outside Avondale firehouse

CNN Newsource on November 29, 2025

By WBBM Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Three Chicago firefighters were held up at gunpoint Thursday morning in front of their fire station on the Northwest Side in an apparent attempt to steal one of their cars in the Avondale neighborhood.

On Thanksgiving morning, when many people were gearing up to be with family, members of the Chicago Fire Department at Engine 91 were simply waiting on a call. Instead, they found themselves calling Chicago police after armed robbers pointed weapons at them.

Around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, firefighters looked out of the station window to see someone trying to steal one of their cars outside the firehouse at Diversey Avenue and Pulaski Road.

“First responders are meant to take care of the city. Anyone targeting them is crazy in their mind,” concerned neighbor Chris Espinoza said.

Chicago police said three people ran out of the fire station to stop the break-in. That’s when all three were met by a group of armed thieves who pointed weapons at them.

“For that to happen to people who are helping us when we’re in need, that’s really messed up. It just shows how low people’s morals are,” neighbor Angel Rocha said

Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th), a former firefighter, posted on social media that the firefighters were just starting their 24-hour shift when they confronted the masked thieves, only to find out the crooks were all carrying guns.

Those in the neighborhood are troubled by first responders being targeted.

One woman said it shows “nobody is safe.”

Thankfully no one was injured, but the thieves remain on the run. Area 5 detectives were investigating.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Man dies at the hospital after being trapped underneath vehicle in Fayette County

CNN Newsource on November 29, 2025

By Patrick Damp

Click here for updates on this story

    Pittsburgh (KDKA) — A man died in Fayette County after he became trapped under his vehicle in the driveway of his home.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, they were called to the home in Uniontown for a report of a man who had been run over by a vehicle.

Once troopers arrived at the home, they learned that a man had become trapped beneath the front tire of his vehicle.

The investigation found that the man pulled into his driveway, did not put the car in park, exited the vehicle, and as it began to drift backward, the open driver’s side door pulled him to the ground, and he became pinned under the front tire.

Family members and a passerby were able to get him out from underneath the car prior to troopers arriving on the scene.

The man was taken to Uniontown Hospital, where he ulitmately died from his injuries.

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the death, which, as of Saturday morning, is being classified as an accidental death.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

$7.2 million allocated for rehabilitation of Maryland’s “high hazard” Piney Run Watershed Dam

CNN Newsource on November 29, 2025

By JT Moodee Lockman

Click here for updates on this story

    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Maryland lawmakers allocated $7.2 million in federal funding to rehabilitate Piney Run Watershed Dam in Carroll County with the goal of reducing the risk of breaches.

The dam was classified as “high hazard” by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), meaning the county and MDE take extra precautions to ensure it is well-maintained and inspected annually.

According to the county, the earthen dam is about 74 feet tall and was finished in 1974 to provide flood control, public recreation and potential water supply.

According to state lawmakers, a breach at the dam would put hundreds of residents and properties at risk, and could damage infrastructure in the area, including a highway and a railroad.

The investment will address safety concerns, reduce the risk of structural failure, and enhance flood protection, ensuring the dam meets all federal and state safety standards.

The rehabilitation project will widen the spillway, install a concrete weir spillway structure, raise the dam crest and add other critical measures to prevent rising water from overflowing, lawmakers said.

“Piney Run Park is a beloved piece of the Sykesville community, and maintaining the Piney Run Dam is critical to ensuring Marylanders can continue to enjoy it for years to come. This federal investment will help bolster the safety of the dam so folks can keep experiencing all Piney Run Park has to offer,” Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Reps. Sara Elfreth and Johnny Olszewski said in a joint statement.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rehabilitation program, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to lawmakers. The 2025 government funding bill included $1 million for the program, and the 2026 funding bill includes an additional $3 million.

Carroll County is expected to apply for the funds as the project continues into the construction phase, lawmakers said.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.