COLUMN: Fall sports roundUP
Sports > COLUMN: Fall sports roundUP

COLUMN: Fall sports roundUP

By Audrey Day , Rieve Randall and Kaeden Souki | December 9, 2025 12:00pm

Senior defender Oliver Jeppe celebrates with fans after the senior night win against Seattle University on Nov. 8.
by Ryan Reynolds / The Beacon

In what feels like quicker than the blink of an eye, UP is nearing the end of another semester. While this means saying goodbye to assignments and extracurriculars, it also entails a bittersweet close to the fall sports that have motivated campus throughout this stressful term.

To celebrate the term’s grand finale, reporters Rieve Randall, Kaeden Souki and Audrey Day have evaluated the performance of each fall sport.

Men’s soccer

Men’s soccer has enjoyed a season to remember. They have proven themselves time and time again to be one of the strongest teams in the country, evidenced by their No. 8 seed ranking in the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament.

And who’s to say otherwise? Thanks to the infamous “Merlo Magic,” the Pilots were the best home team in college soccer with an all-time best 12-1 record at Merlo Field. Portland finished with a 14-2-4 overall and 6-1-2 conference record. They did not concede a single goal through their first six games of the season, and their 11 goals allowed were the third fewest in the nation. 

On Sept. 30, they were named No. 1 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for the first time in school history. Following their No. 1 ranking, the team spent the rest of the regular season ranked in the top 10. 

On Nov. 19, Portland dominated the WCC’s all-conference selections. Redshirt senior defender Sebastian Hernandez, junior Diego Rosas, sophomore David Ajagbe and redshirt sophomore Joe Highfield were all named to the All-WCC First Team. Rosas also earned WCC Midfielder of the Year, racking up two goals and 15 assists, which set a new school single-season record. This total is the most by a WCC player since 1995, and as of Dec. 5, was tied for first in the nation.

Sophomore forward David Ajagbe nut-megs a San Diego defender on an attacking dribble.
by Ryan Reynolds / The Beacon

Ajagbe collected 10 goals and four assists in his first season with the Pilots. He proved to be a key player throughout the season, often combining with fellow attacker Highfield in a productive partnership. Both players were all but unstoppable throughout this year’s campaign, illustrating the chemistry that guided the team throughout the season. 

“I think it's just our mentality we have as a team, we like to have an all-in mindset,” Ajagbe said. “We’re going into every game with a chip on our shoulder and something to prove.”

The Pilots’ stellar defense was anchored by redshirt junior goalkeeper Miguel-Angel Hernandez, who led the WCC with a .795 save percentage. Solid from the start, M. Hernandez kept a clean sheet through the first five games of the season. 

But for opponents to face M. Hernandez, they first had to face an equally formidable line of junior midfielder Efetobo Aror, S. Hernandez and junior defender Nikos Clarke-Tosczak — and that’s only scratching the surface. 

Unfortunately, the team’s record-breaking season ended on Dec. 5 with a 1-0 loss to Furman in the tournament quarterfinals. This was the Pilots’ first home loss of the season.

But the future looks bright, as players like Highfield, Ajagbe and M. Hernandez should return next season. 

Women’s soccer

Though women’s soccer didn’t advance to the NCAA tournament, they exceeded their No. 6 pre-season prediction with a No. 3 finish in the WCC, a 7-1-3 conference and 10-3-6 overall record, closing the season with a four-game win streak. 

The Pilots will have a better chance at postseason play in 2026-27 with the addition of the WCC tournament in men’s and women’s soccer.

With minimal representation last season, the Pilots earned their flowers this season with five All-WCC selections.

Redshirt senior midfielder Keeley Dockter — the only Pilot named to the conference pre-season team — made All-WCC First Team alongside redshirt junior midfielder Violet Rademacher, who led the squad with seven goals and 1,710 minutes played. Dockter was also named WCC Defensive Player of the Year, an anchor to a Pilot defense that conceded only 12 goals, second fewest in the conference.

Women's soccer celebrates the victory over Gonzaga on Oct. 31.
by Ryan Reynolds / The Beacon

While the departure of program saves leader Bre Norris left a hole in the goal, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Hills filled the role expertly this year. Hills earned All-WCC honors for the first time in her career with a second team selection. Leading the WCC with a 0.59 goals-against average, her .838 save percentage was third in the conference. 

Junior defender Hailey Bagby and junior midfielder Aaliyah Dockter each earned conference honorable mentions, rounding out a Pilots core that boasted a .684 overall win percentage — the program’s best since 2013.

Volleyball

In a season that may appear lackluster at first glance — a 14-15 overall and 9-9 conference record — this squad made program history. After falling in a close 3-2 match to perfect-in-WCC San Diego, Portland earned their first ever victory against Washington State in a 3-1 match on Nov. 20. 

Before the juggernaut Toreros ended the Pilots’ streak, they started 3-0 in conference play for the first time in program history, and made the Chiles Center an early-season fortress with a 6-0 home start. With their Nov. 22 sweep of Gonzaga, they earned their ninth WCC win and secured their best conference record since 2016. 

Though they finished in the middle of the WCC pack, the Pilots achieved their preseason goals to improve in conference play — earning four more WCC wins than last year — and earn more individual conference honors. Redshirt sophomore setter Havannah Hoeft earned WCC Setter of the Week honors on Sept. 29 and Nov. 24, and ranked third in the conference with 8.84 assists per set. 

Senior outsider hitter Elin Larsson goes for a kill against Gonzaga on Nov. 8.
by Ryan Reynolds / The Beacon

Sophomore defensive specialist Tinoa Woodward-Hart earned WCC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8 and senior outside hitter Lucia Busso was named conference offensive player of the week on Nov. 10 after notching 14 kills to lead the squad to their first win over LMU since 2010.

At season’s end, Hoeft and senior outside hitter Maui Robins earned All-WCC First Team honors, while Busso and junior middle blocker Taina Kaauwai were named to the second team. Senior outside hitter Elin Larsson, the team’s leader with 315 kills, was an honorable mention. 

They may not have shattered expectations, but the squad certainly achieved their preseason goals, and the future looks brighter than usual. 

Women’s tennis

In some ways, the fall tennis season serves as an appetizer to the main course that is the spring season — and this squad made me hungry for more. 

Transfer Dariya Radulova debuted the season on Sept. 20, representing the Pilots at the ITA All-American Championships. The Championships are a prestigious invitational event in which individuals play for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament — but Radulova lost both matches in the prequalifying draw. 

The Pilots found more success at the Sept. 26-28 Cougar Classic, with senior Alaia Rubio Perez and sophomore Maria Galatescu winning the Draw A doubles competition and sweeping a Gonzaga duo in the finals. 

Head Coach Filip Zivkovic, Dariya Radulova, Meagan Pearson, Iva Zelic, Kylie Canubida, and Alaia Rubio Perez during media Dday portraits at Chiles Center on Sept. 15. Photo by Maury Neipris.

Junior Nadine Arbaizar Martinez and sophomore Lexie Flores fell short in the Draw B semifinals, but they made up for it with singles wins in the consolation round. Freshman Kennedy Harris went 3-0 in singles in her debut tournament. 

After struggling more at the Duck Invitational, they bounced back at the ITA Regionals. Radulova and Rubio Perez made it to the Round of 16 Singles, while Rubio Perez and Galatescu made it that far in doubles, making one of the best regionals performances in program history. 

At the Gonzaga Invite, the Pilots core closed the season with more singles victories and another top draw doubles title from Rubio Perez and Galatescu. With a lot of strong performances from key players, I’m excited to see how the core — and the roster as a whole — shines this spring. 

Men’s tennis

Continuing their stellar performance in singles and doubles play last fall, men’s tennis started strong at the Dar Walters Classic opening tournament. Junior Tanner Binder and sophomore Lucas Kimelman won the Orange Draw in a sweep over Idaho, and the team collectively finished 10-4 in doubles. 

At the ITA Regionals, senior Nikola Keremedchiev reached the Round of 16 Singles, falling with redshirt junior Cade Fernando in the doubles quarterfinal. 

Redshirt junior Cade Fernando returns a ball at the Dar Walters Classic on Sept. 12. Courtesy of Portland Pilots Digital Media.

The squad commanded the Gonzaga Invitational to close the season. Junior Stefan Skobelev won the singles Red Draw, Fernando won the Gray Draw, Keremedchiev lost the Blue Draw final and freshman Gian Manhas fell in the White Draw final.

Kimelman and Binder made it to the Red Draw doubles final. Portland’s command of the tournament showed in an all-Pilot Blue Draw final between Skobelev and Garcia and victors Fernando and Keremedchiev. 

After strong singles and doubles displays, I have hope the team can improve on last spring’s performances. 

Women’s cross country

Coming off last season’s second-place finish in the WCC Championship, women’s cross country was predicted to finish No. 3 in WCC Preseason Polls. 

The team was led by new talent: runners like freshman Megan Crum, freshman Lindsey Kaines and freshman Selena Bangerter. They started the season with a fourth place finish at the Lewis and Clark XC Opener, where multiple returning Pilots — redshirt sophomore Avery Owen, redshirt freshman Kate Kabenina redshirt sophomore Janelle Avilez — set personal records (PRs). They improved by placing first at the Ash Creek Festival, where Bangerter led the team with a third place finish in the 5K. 

A group of women's cross country runners huddle together at the WCC Championships on Nov. 1. Courtesy of Portland Pilots Digital Media.

They continued strong with a third place finish at the Mike Johnson Classic and placed second at the Linfield George Oja Invitational. Despite success throughout the season, they fell short of predictions with a fifth-place finish at the WCC Championships. 

Crum was a key part of the team, receiving All-WCC Second Team Honors in her debut season. To conclude the season, the Pilots finished No. 23 in the 6K behind major schools at the NCAA West Regionals. They were led again by Crum, who PRd for the final time this season in a No. 78 finish.

With no current seniors, the team should continue building chemistry next season with their core remaining intact.

Men’s cross country

After winning the WCC title in 2024 and being picked to finish No. 1 in the preseason poll, the Pilots were faced with high hopes. They proved the predictions right by rarely earning below a top-five finish this season.

They started the season strong with two second-place finishes at the Lewis and Clark XC Opener and the Gator Cross meet. However, they lost a little steam at the Gans Creek Classic, placing No. 26 out of 32 competing squads.  

The Pilots bounced back at the Charles Bowles Invitational, claiming a team title. They showed a commanding performance, scoring only 26 points while the runner-up Idaho scored 93 points. Yes, the lower the score the better. They were led by graduate student Eliason Kabasenche, who finished first. Kabasenche was named WCC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week on Oct. 7.

Right behind Kabasenche was redshirt sophomore Anthony Giesch, who placed second, fourth-place graduate student Carson Helmer and redshirt sophomore Jacob Hupke, who placed eighth overall. 

Runner Jacob Hupke during the WCC Cross Country Championships at The Course Spokane Valley. Courtesy of Portland Pilots Digital Media.

The Pilots took second again at the Linfield George Oja Invitational, which prepared the team for a second place finish at the WCC Championships. Graduate student Jonas Price, senior Kgadi Monyebodi and redshirt senior Nolan Hosbein were awarded All-WCC First-Team Honors, while redshirt senior Trey Gannon was named to the second team. The Pilots followed with a No. 5 finish at the NCAA West Regionals, at which Price and Monyebodi earned All-Region Honors. 

To culminate the successful season, Price represented the Pilots at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, setting a PR in the 10K with a No. 65 finish. 

Though the season was a success, the large number of graduating runners could mean uncertainty for the program's future.

Kaeden Souki is the Sports Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached at souki28@up.edu.

Audrey Day is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at daya28@up.edu.

Rieve Randall is the Community Engagement Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached at randallr28@up.edu




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