Welcome to the West Coast, Coach Alverson

New Women's Basketball Coach Journies to San Diego, Dual-Tennis Program Victories, Transfer Portal Camp Updates, and a 13-Run First-Inning Domination

April 16, 2025

NEW HEAD COACH SPOTLIGHT

Coach Alverson: Building Champions On and Off the Court

When Coach Blanche Alverson arrived at USD to join the women's basketball coaching staff, she knew this program had incredible potential. The rich tradition of excellence at USD, combined with the university's commitment to developing well-rounded student-athletes, creates the perfect environment for building something special.

Coach Alverson's basketball journey began in Georgia, where she developed a passion for the game that carried her through her playing career at Auburn University. Those years taught her invaluable lessons about resilience, teamwork, and leadership—lessons she's now privileged to share with our Toreros.

Her coaching philosophy centers on three key principles: relentless effort, attention to detail, and genuine care for each player as an individual. Coach Alverson doesn't just coach basketball—she mentors young women who will become leaders in whatever field they choose after graduation. Her goals remain clear: compete for conference championships while preparing student-athletes for success beyond basketball.

Alverson as an Athlete circa 2013 via Opelika-Auburn News

What makes coaching at USD truly special for Alverson is witnessing the growth of her players, both on the court and in the classroom. Seeing them excel academically while developing their basketball skills reinforces why this profession is so rewarding.

To the loyal Torero fans — Coach Alverson extends her thanks for their unwavering support. The energy at the Jenny Craig Pavilion creates an atmosphere that inspires the team to perform at their best. USD Women's Basketball is committed to representing the university with class and competitive excellence.

“We’re going to be high energy and highly competitive, and that’s what I want everyone to know when they come and see us. It’s going to be an exciting brand of basketball.” -Coach Alverson

SPRING SPORTS CAMPAIGN

Support Your USD Toreros!

Toreros, it's time to rally behind our amazing spring athletes! The 2025 Ole Foundation Spring Sports Campaign is your chance to directly support your favorite University of San Diego spring teams and players. Your generosity creates incredible opportunities for our student-athletes to grow their brand while making a difference in our community.

Every contribution helps our talented Toreros reach new heights of excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of our championship journey!

CHAMPIONSHIP SWEEP

Torero Tennis Programs Make History with Dual WCC Titles

via USD Athletics

In a remarkable display of USD Tennis dominance, both our men's and women's programs have secured WCC regular season championships, marking an unprecedented achievement for Torero Athletics.

Our women's team etched their names in program history by capturing their first-ever WCC regular season title at the Hogan Tennis Center. The historic senior day showdown against Pepperdine ended a 13-year drought against the Waves, with senior Claudia de las Heras delivering in the decisive match queueing an on-court celebration.

Not to be outdone, our men's tennis squad clinched at least a share of their fourth consecutive WCC title with a 4-1 road victory over Gonzaga. Despite dropping the doubles point, the Toreros (21-3, 6-0 WCC) responded emphatically by winning all six first sets in singles.

This championship continues the men's remarkable dynasty, marking their seventh title in the last eight years, 10th in the last 12 years, and 13th overall in program history.

But the work isn't finished for either squad. The women's team will face unranked Washington State (14-7, 9-0 in Pullman) before returning home for the WCC Tournament at Aztec Tennis Center. Meanwhile, the seventh-ranked men's team travels to No. 23 Pepperdine on Saturday, April 18, where a win would secure the outright title and top seed in the WCC Tournament, hosted in San Diego from April 24-26. Additionally, USD is positioned to potentially host up to three rounds of the Men’s Tennis NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

CAMP UPDATE

Basketball Transfer Portal Camp: Success on the Court

USD Men's Basketball recently hosted a Transfer Portal Camp, attracting talented prospects from across the collegiate and high school basketball landscape.

The event drew an impressive array of athletes representing various competition levels, including high school, Junior College, NAIA, Division III, Division II, and Division I programs. This diverse talent pool provided coaches with a comprehensive look at potential additions to the Torero roster.

During the 90-minute camp, participants were grouped into teams and coached directly by USD Basketball staff, allowing coaches to evaluate prospects in competitive game situations while giving athletes firsthand experience with the program's coaching philosophy.

Following the on-court portion, players and their guests attended an informative NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) presentation, providing valuable insights into the opportunities available to student-athletes at USD.

This innovative recruiting approach comes at a crucial time in college basketball, where the transfer portal has fundamentally changed how programs build and maintain competitive rosters. The camp's success demonstrates USD Basketball's commitment to adapting to the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics while continuing to build a program that competes at the highest level in the West Coast Conference.

GREAT PRICES, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

MEN’S BASEBALL: GAME RECAP

Thirteen Runs. One Inning.

via NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego baseball (10-24, 5-3 WCC) dominated Saint Mary's (15-18, 2-6 WCC) in a 23-8 run-rule victory Saturday at Louis Guisto Field, powered by a remarkable 13-run first inning.

Jack Gurevitch launched a leadoff home run to spark USD's offensive onslaught, as the Toreros' first 13 batters all reached base in a frame that featured 11 hits, five walks, and eight different players driving in runs.

The 23-run performance marked USD's highest scoring output since March 2019 against UC Riverside. AJ Beltre led the charge with five RBIs, five runs scored, and his first collegiate home run in the fifth inning. Austin Smith continued his impressive season by extending his hitting streak to 25 games while driving in three runs.

Cal Scolari (2-2) earned the win with four solid innings before Porter Rovin and AJ Frausto closed out the victory. The Toreros' balanced attack saw four players record three hits each and ten different players cross home plate in their fourth consecutive win.

WHERE TOREROS OWN THEIR FUTURE…

That’s All For Now!

We hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter! You can follow us on @olefoundation on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Please help us in continuing to spread the word, and thank you for supporting the Olé Foundation!

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