LUKAS BLANKENSTEIN / CONTRIBUTOR

Winter break is usually a time for everyone to relax and destress. Unfortunately, USD student-athletes were afforded no such luxury on the courts, fields or pools as they continued to play important games throughout the break. Meanwhile, coaches were busy preparing for the start of their season and recruiting players.

Men’s tennis officially began over the break and has performed impeccably. The team kicked off their season with a perfect 6-0 through Feb. 2. This stretch of victories included three wins over ranked opponents, those being No. 20 University of California, Los Angeles (4-3), No. 16 University South Carolina (4-1) and No. 10 Florida State University (4-2). This start was strong enough to see the Toreros jump up from No. 16 to No. 9 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings.  

Oliver Tarvet is leading the team and is currently ranked second in the nation by the ITA among all male tennis players. Tarvet is 11-1 this season, including a perfect 6-0 during team play, only dropping two total sets during this six game stretch. In addition, Tarvet is part of the nation’s number one ranked doubles team, alongside Stian Klaassen. The team has had a fantastic start to the season, starting 5-0 with one abandoned game, which happens when a team has already won the point or game and thus, there is not a need to continue. 

USD men’ s tennis (pictured above) is currently on a 6-0 streak. Photo courtesy of  @usd_tennis/Instagram

It hasn’t just been the players who have been busy. USD volleyball’s coaches and administrators have been recruiting players to join the team for the next season and beyond. The team has managed to snag a trio of recruits. From the transfer portal, USD was able to grab rising junior libero/defensive specialist Reese Bates  from  Butler University. Bates has played a total of 48 matches for Butler over her two seasons, accumulating 219 digs and 33 service aces. 

In addition to Bates, USD announced two high school recruits, both of whom were Gatorade players of the year in their respective states, an award given by Gatorade to the athletes they feel were the best athletes in their state at their sport. The first of these players was setter/opposite side hitter Belle Grooms out of Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Last year, Grooms was able to lead St. Joseph to a Division 1 state championship appearance, while providing 706 assists and 213 kills with a .478 kill percentage. Grooms is graduating from high school this year and will be joining USD next year. 

Along with Grooms, USD also secured the Washington State player of the year, Laura Eichert. Eichert, an outside hitter, accumulated 746 kills this year at Lake Stevens High School, doing so on a .464 killing percentage and .343 hitting  percentage. She also was active on defense, accounting for 289 digs last season. Sadly for Toreros fans, Eichert does not graduate until 2026, meaning fans will have to wait until the 2026-27 season to see her wear  blue and white.

This winter also marked the commencement of the Major League Soccer (MLS) draft, which saw two members of USD’s powerhouse soccer team get drafted  into the professional game. Sophomore goalkeeper Donovan Parisian was taken with the No.18 selection in the first round by the New England Revolution. Parisian was the backbone of the nations fourth best defense in terms of goals against average, starting 16 of USD’s 20 games. He only surrendered .69 goals  per game and recorded eight shutouts, while also being selected as the West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the year. On Jan. 3, Parisian officially signed with the Revolution, meaning he will go from coast to coast to play with the Revs full time.

Someone who doesn’t need to travel as  far is    junior forward Sami Kannan, as he was drafted in the second round as pick 56 by San Diego F.C. Kannan spearheaded the Torero’s attack this season, leading the team with nine goals. 

USD athletes also flexed their academic muscles over the winter break. USD revealed that during the Fall 2024 semester, student-athletes excelled in the classroom, earning a combined 3.31 GPA among all student athletes. 348 of USD’s 446 student athletes (78%) finished the semester with above a 3.00 GPA. In addition, 14 of San Diego’s 17 teams (82%) finished with an average GPA of 3.00 or higher. Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams had the highest GPA’s, accumulating a 3.68 and 3.59 GPA respectively. 

While the rest of us were relaxing, USD sports was still busy throughout the break. Through the games, training and even recruitment, USD athletics have managed to keep themselves active throughout the winter break.

The USD men’s tennis team practiced over intersession. Photo courtesy of @usd_tennis/Instagram