APRIL 21, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

What administrators, coaches, parents and fans are reading. #whyD3
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😄  Hi, Monday. Here’s hoping you had a great weekend

🗓️ What’s Happening This Week. The DIII Presidents Council meets Wednesday.

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TOP STORY
1. Management Council Recap

“During its two-day virtual meeting this week, the Division III Management Council 😃 

Additionally, the council directed staff to develop concepts for the appropriate Division III committees regarding a safe harbor, limited immunity or reduced penalties for student-athletes who engage in prohibited sports betting but seek help for problem gambling.

"Exploring the concept of a safe harbor or limited immunity for student-athletes involved with sports betting reaffirms that harm reduction and education will continue to be paramount. We are seeking to deregulate betting on professional sports because we believe it will be more likely that student-athletes and staff will seek help for problem gambling," said Jason Verdugo, chair of the council and athletics director at Wisconsin-Eau Claire.”

» Eligibility Pilot Waiver Program. “The council recommended to the Presidents Council a waiver pilot program that would permit Division III student-athletes, pursuant to specific criteria, to continue to represent their school in intercollegiate competition while enrolled at another school that has a formal academic agreement with their school and does not sponsor varsity athletics.”

» Coaches Connect Program. “The Management Council approved a request to establish a Coaches Connect Program. The program seeks to enhance communication, engagement and education of Division III coaches in governance and championships. The program's mission is to prepare coaches to make informed decisions and collaborate with athletics administrators and their conference office.”

» Flag Football. “The council approved a request by the Committee on Women's Athletics to sponsor legislation for the 2026 NCAA Convention to add women's flag football to the Emerging Sports for Women program.”

» Continue Reading

CONFERENCES
2. NESCAC Presidents Sign Off on NCAA Football Championship Participation

“The NESCAC Presidents have approved a proposal from the conference athletic directors to allow NESCAC Football teams to participate in the NCAA Division III Championship effective in fall 2026.

"I am pleased to share this information with our football student-athletes, coaches, and administrators,” said NESCAC Executive Director Andrea Savage. “The conference has had positive experiences participating in postseason play, and we are pleased that football teams will have the opportunity to participate in the NCAA Championships and share in this experience as well.”

NESCAC Football will maintain a nine-game schedule against fellow conference schools. The team that finishes at the top of the standings (after any tiebreakers are applied, if necessary) will earn the NESCAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Football Championship. NESCAC teams will be eligible for Pool C "at-large" bids if selected.”

» Why Not 2025? Savage told D3Playbook that it gives the conference an opportunity to address logistical issues and allow schools to properly plan for the change.

» What They’re Saying. “We are going to the playoffs in 2026. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition, shared our work, or supported us in any other way. Additionally, thank you to the NESCAC presidents for hearing out our request for change. This marks an incredible day for equity across athletics. While we would have loved for this change to impact the upcoming senior class, we are excited to have the opportunity to help football in the NESCAC move forward and compete on a national stage. We did this together - this is just the beginning. Here’s to a future of NESCAC dominance in the NCAA playoffs.” - NESCAC FBPA

VOLLEYBALL (M)
3. Cal Lutheran Shocks Top-Ranked NYU

Cal Lutheran traveled over 3,000 miles to New York City and took down NYU, the undefeated, top-ranked team in the country, 18-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-20, to advance to the national DIII men’s volleyball semifinals.

The Kingsmen (23-6) will meet Springfield in one final four matchup on Friday, while Juniata and Southern Virginia will match up in the other in Salem, Va.

Michael Stahl powered #7 CLU with 18 kills, while Jordan Cooper added 11.

Springfield d. Carthage, 23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 19-25, 15-8. The #4 Pride (24-4) outlasted the #6 Firebirds in five sets, as Carter Durivage pounded 23 kills with a .514 hitting percentage on the night.

Juniata d. Nichols, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 25-11. The Eagles (31-4) set a program record for victories, advancing to the final four for the second time in program history, on the strength of 14 kills and a .619 hitting percentage from Tyler Goldsborough.

Southern Virginia d. Messiah, 28-30, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18. The Knights (33-1) rebounded from an opening-set loss to defeat the Falcons in four sets. Kyler Evans registered 11 kills and a .529 hitting percentage for the victors.

» Complete Bracket

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
4. Twice as Nice For UMHB

Mary Hardin-Baylor (21-12) won its second AVCA Small College DIII Beach Volleyball title with a 3-0 sweep of Berry (28-5).

The Cru’s 3-4-5 tandems of Faith Clark/Shelbee Adkins, Natalie Hughes/Saige De La Fuente and Aliana Rojas/Kendall Harrington powered UMHB to a 3-0 sweep of Stevenson in the semifinal round.

The top-ranked Vikings reached the title match with a 3-0 sweep of SAA rival Hendrix.

In the final, it was All-American Natasha Thoms and partner Julianna Green that got the Cru off to an early lead with a 21-19, 21-16 win. Fellow All-American Heidi Farrar and Kelli Northup put UMHB up 2-0 with a 21-13, 21-14 triumph, setting the stage for Rojas and Harrington to put the match away, 21-14, 21-15.

» Read More

NEWS YOU CAN USE
5. Lightning Round ⚡️ 

» Baseball. “Washington University in St. Louis baseball alum Caleb Durbin was called up to the Big Leagues by the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of last weekend's series against the A's.”

» More Baseball. Lynchburg scored on its way to a 30-2 drubbing of Bridgewater on Saturday. In the nightcap, the Hornets fell 10 runs short of their game 1 effort, tallying 11 fourth-inning runs in a 21-10 win.

» Beach Volleyball. Four women were honored as DIII Beach Volleyball All-Americans by the AVCA on Saturday - Berry’s Kaylee Howell and Becky Blaydes, along with Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Tasha Thoms and Heidi Farrar.

» Track and Field (W). UW-La Crosse’s Lauren Jarrett set a NCAA DIII record in the 100 meters, covering the distance in 11.23 (+1.9) at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

» Fundraising. Wooster’s Athletics Day of Giving raised $287,377.75 from 823 donors. Valley Forge Military Academy and College has received a $3 million gift from alumnus Harry McCreary Jr. for capital improvements around the school's Main Line campus.

» Bequest. “Goucher College will receive a gift of approximately $55 million - the largest bequest in the institution’s 140-year history. The gift, a bequest from Goucher alumna Anica Donnan Rawnsley ’51, will sustain scholarships in future years and ensure continued opportunities and support for Goucher students.”

TRANSACTIONS
6. Comings and Goings

AVERETT - Announced suspension of women’s lacrosse program after 2025 season
BETHANY - Jordan Barton resigned as head women’s volleyball coach
McMURRY - Matt Bolton named head men’s basketball coach
NORTH CENTRAL (Minn.) - Paul Theorin resigned as head cross country/track and field coach
SAGE - Taylor Gillespie named head women’s tennis coach

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