The AVCA Small College Beach Championships took center stage at Hickory Point over the past weekend, emerging as the biggest college event in the US. With colleges from 16 different states, 30 schools, 20 courts, and 410 matches in total, the competition was nothing short of spectacular.
Friday saw the Pairs challenge, where Sophia Baelle and Jules Aiken from Tusculum College emerged victorious with wins over St. Andrews and State College of Florida. On Saturday, the NAIA Division had its championship round, with Webber International University emerging as champions after a hard-fought battle against Southeastern. Cindy Garcia Peñaloza and Kendall Steinert from Webber were named NAIA All-Americans, while Alexandra Postlethwaite and Grace Petty from Southeastern University also received the prestigious title. Truett McConnell defeated Warner in the Silver Bracket in a thrilling showdown, adding to the impressive display of talent and sportsmanship on the beach.
Sunday was the last day of the event and it was filled with excitement, passion, and outstanding performances, as teams battled it out for the top spot. In the Division III category, Hendrix College claimed the gold medal in a thrilling victory over Berry, while in Division II, the University of Tampa reclaimed its throne at the AVCA Small College Beach Championships with a sweeping victory over Colorado Mesa. These were the pairs named All-Americans.
AVCA All-Americans for Division II:
Julia Oswald and Payton Brunick from the University of Tampa
Holly Schmidt and Macie Lachemann from Colorado Mesa
Sara Ostojic and Hannah Fair from Concordia
AVCA All-Americans for Division III:
Abby Collier and Kyler Greenlee from Hendrix College
Peyton Breissinger and Bella Boston from Berry College
Overall, the AVCA Small College Beach Championships was a thrilling event, showcasing the best talent in college beach volleyball. Congratulations to all the winners and participants who made this year's event a huge success!
Find all the videos and interviews done over the weekend by clicking here
See all event pictures here: Here