- Monarch Brew
- Posts
- Monarch Brew 6/5: On The Grind
Monarch Brew 6/5: On The Grind
Monarchs Getting Closer And Closer To Kickoff
Monarch Brew Crew
June 05, 2026
Good Morning, ODU Fam. Break? What break? Our guys are grinding!
What all do we have stirring in today’s Brew? Check it out below!
🎾 Academic Ace
⛳️ Praisin’ A Pair
🎥 Crown Conversations
🦁 And much more!
📈 STOCK UP
🔼 Academic Ace. The tennis court isn’t the only place that ODU men’s tennis standout Piet Steveker served up aces this spring.
This week, Steveker was named to the College Sports Communicators 2025-26 Academic All-America Division I Men’s Tennis Second Team, as announced by the CSC on Wednesday. Steveker is one of 18 to be named to the list, the 30th Monarch ever in history to earn the accolade, and the first men’s tennis player in program history to receive the honor.
Steveker was named Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Sun Belt Conference Singles Player of the Week on March 26, and finished the academic year with a 4.0 GPA in finance.
🔼 Praisin’ A Pair. The ODU women’s golf team will enter next season with two foundational pieces with a pair of Monarchs earning all-conference accolades this week.
ODU’s Barbara Car and Puneet Bajwa were named to the All-Sun Belt First and Third Teams, respectively.
It marks the first career all-conference honor for Car and the second for Bajwa, who was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team as a freshman in 2024.
🔼 Sideline Addition. A new, but experienced presence will be on the sidelines for the ODU men’s basketball staff this upcoming season.
This week, head coach Mike Jones that he has added Jim Molinari to his staff. Molinari will serve as an assistant coach and will work on post player development and defense.
Molinari brings a wealth of experience to the Monarchs, including head coaching stints at Division I programs such as Northern Illinois (1989-91), Bradley (1991-2002), and Western Illinois (2008-14). He was also an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2004-06, was elevated to interim head coach for the 2006-07 season, and served as an assistant at Nebraska (2014-19) and Oklahoma (2019-21).
🎧 CROWN CONVERSATIONS
On this episode of Crown Conversations, ODU football defensive backs De’Veion McLilley-Bulo and Asher Horn sit down to discuss their journeys to Old Dominion, the bond they’ve built as teammates, and the work that goes into competing at the college level.
From family and football beginnings to life inside the Monarch locker room, the duo gives fans a closer look at the personalities and mindset driving ODU’s secondary into the upcoming season.
* All Times are Eastern
Saturday, September 5th
🏈 Football vs. Norfolk State @ 6 pm l ESPN+
Do you know a friend or family member who is a Monarch fan?
Simply forward them this email and they can sign up to receive the brew by clicking the link below to subscribe. The Brew is sent every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and is completely free!
🦁 Have a great one, y’all!