DALLAS – TCU’s Hailey Hamlett and Anhelina Khmil became National Champions at the AVCA Collegiate Beach National Pairs Championships in Huntsville, Ala. The duo posted a perfect 8-0 on the sand, including a three-set victory over UCLA to advance to the finals. The pair defeated Stanford (21-17, 19-21, 15-12) to earn the first-place finish and win the program's first AVCA Collegiate Beach National Pairs Championship title. TCU is in its first season as a member of Conference USA for beach volleyball. Teammates Sutton MacTavish and Ana Vergara placed second in the 25th bracket.
Lisa Luini and Lucie Pokorna of FIU took first place in the Consolation bracket with a straight set win over South Carolina. Pokorna is a returning all-conference performer, while Luini earned CUSA All-Freshman team honors in 2022. FIU’s Giada Bianchi and Alicia Pratesi took first place in the 5th bracket with a win over USC.
In the 9th bracket, FAU’s Ashleigh Adams and Julie Honzovicova finished third with a win over Owls’ teammates Courtney Moon and Marketa Svozilova. Honzovicova is a returning All-Conference performer and reigning CUSA Pair of the Year, while Adams was CUSA co-Freshman of the Year in 2022.
Tulane’s Emily Heintzelman and Lara Torreulla took third place in the 37th bracket. CUSA All-Conference pair Arden Copping and Jasmine Haas of UAB finished in the 41st bracket. Also competing for the Blazers, Brooke Pertuit and Madeline Sigmon finished second in the 53rd bracket.
This was the second annual AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach National Championships in Huntsville, Ala. The event featured a women’s pairs national championship consisting of 64 pairs selected from college beach teams across the country.
AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach National Championships Results
Conference USA opens its third season of beach volleyball in February 2024 with nine teams: FIU, Jacksonville State, UTEP and affiliate members Florida Atlantic, Missouri State, TCU, Tarleton State, Tulane and UAB.
Photo courtesy gofrogs.com
- ConferenceUSA.com -