INSIDE JENNY CRAIG PAVILION

Toreros Defeat Utah State Behind Williams’ Historic Performance

San Diego women's basketball (4-6, 0-0 WCC) wrapped up their first home stand of December in emphatic fashion, powering past Utah State (3-5, 0-0 MWC) 70-66 on Sunday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The victory marked the team's third home win of the season and showcased the growing chemistry in Coach Blanche Alverson's revamped roster.

WILLIAMS MAKES HISTORY

Freshman forward Ayla Williams continues to announce her arrival on the college basketball scene. The Las Vegas native posted her second consecutive double-double with 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Williams controlled the glass throughout the afternoon while showcasing her physicality, earning five trips to the free-throw line in the first half alone.

For her outstanding week, Williams earned West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week honors: the first Torero to win a weekly conference award this season, and the first USD women's basketball player to earn freshman of the week since Mila Wawszkowicz during the 2023-24 season.

While Williams controlled the interior, freshman guard Olivia Owens stole the show offensively. Owens exploded for a career-best 25 points, knocking down crucial free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. She added nine rebounds and displayed remarkable composure for a first-year player, taking the ball coast-to-coast for a layup late in the first half that pushed USD's advantage to 13 points.

Senior guard Hallie Rhodes added 10 points and provided steady veteran leadership, while Kyrie Ray made her return from injury, contributing six points in 11 minutes.

UP NEXT

at Wisconsin – Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 AM PST
The Toreros travel to Madison to face the Badgers (7-3, 1-0 B1G) at the Kohl Center in just the second all-time meeting between the programs.

vs. UC Riverside – Sunday, December 14 at 2:00 PM
USD returns home to host the Highlanders (2-6, 1-1 Big West) at the Jenny Craig Pavilion for the team's penultimate non-conference home game.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON RECAP

Magical Season Comes to Close with All-Region Recognition

San Diego volleyball's remarkable 2025 season concluded with well-deserved recognition for two of the program's standout performers. Junior outside hitter Nemo Beach earned 2025 AVCA All-Pacific Region Team honors, while sophomore setter Kylie Munday received 2025 AVCA All-Pacific Region Honorable Mention recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

The accolades mark the first career AVCA honors for both Beach and Munday, who previously earned 2025 WCC Player and Setter of the Year awards, respectively. Beach and Munday become the Toreros' first AVCA All-Region players since 2022, when Gabby Blossom, Grace Frohling, Katie Lukes, and Leyla Blackwell received the distinction.

Beach dominated the West Coast Conference throughout the season, leading the league with 467 kills and 527 points: marks that ranked 25th and 26th nationally. Munday orchestrated the Torero offense with precision, totaling 1,108 assists, 273 digs, 65 blocks, 65 kills, and a team-high 47 service aces.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER

The Toreros' 2025 campaign will be remembered as one of the finest in program history. San Diego finished 25-5 overall and tied for the fourth-most victories in a single season.

The team's notched a perfect 18-0 mark in WCC play, the program's 13th WCC Championship, and made its 27th NCAA Tournament appearance. 

The Toreros' magical run included an 18-game winning streak, the sixth-longest active streak in the country, before falling 3-2 to Kansas State in a hard-fought first-round NCAA Tournament match at Nebraska's Bob Devaney Sports Center.

For senior Olivia Bennett, who began her career in the 2022 NCAA Final Four, leading the rebuilt program back to the tournament completed a full-circle journey.

With a culture built on hard work, determination, and championship-level excellence, USD volleyball established itself once again among the nation's elite programs in 2025.

MEN’S SOCCER STARS

Noah James to 2025 MLS Showcase & Torero Pack Earns National Recognition

San Diego men's soccer capped another remarkable season with four student-athletes earning prestigious postseason honors, highlighting a campaign that saw the Toreros make program history by capturing their fourth consecutive West Coast Conference championship.

JAMES INVITED TO MLS COLLEGE SHOWCASE

Junior midfielder Noah James received an invitation to compete at the 2025 MLS College Showcase, taking place December 10-13 in Mesa, Arizona. The Poway native was selected among just 44 collegiate prospects nationwide to participate in the four-day talent evaluation event, where technical staffs from each MLS club will scout top talent ahead of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on December 18.

James enjoyed a tremendous debut season as a Torero after transferring to compete in his hometown. He started all 19 matches in the midfield, totaling 1,653 minutes played while going the full 90 minutes 13 times.

THREE TOREROS NAMED ALL-WEST REGION

The United Soccer Coaches recognized three Toreros on their 2025 Division I All-West Region Teams. Sophomore midfielder Iain Wagner and senior defender Ethan Warne each earned All-West Region First Team honors, while senior midfielder Cesar Bahena was selected to the All-West Region Second Team.

Wagner enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign, leading San Diego with nine goals while contributing four assists for a team-high 22 points.

Warne anchored a phenomenal Torero back line that allowed just 16 total goals during the historic season.

Bahena starred in the USD attack throughout his four-year career, capping his Torero tenure with five goals and four assists in 2025.