Tampa Rolls to 4–0 Start at AVCA Championship
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The University of Tampa beach volleyball team continued its dominant postseason surge at the AVCA Small College Beach Championship, going a perfect 4–0 through two days of action. After sweeping pool play on Thursday, the Spartans returned to the sand Friday with back-to-back sweeps over Eckerd and Texas A&M–Kingsville in Challenge Round 3, advancing to the final stages of bracket play with momentum and confidence.
In the morning matchup against Emmanuel, the Spartans dominated across the board, winning all three completed flights in straight sets. Nevaeh Wolfe andHailey Wolfe cruised to a 21–11, 21–7 win at the 2's, while Anna Bayes andBrooke Green were nearly flawless in a 21–9, 21–7 showing at the 4's. Sammie Ostrander andMeghan Schreck dropped just 11 total points in a 21–7, 21–4 sweep at the 5's. Although the 1's and 3's were left unfinished, Elizabeth Price and Angel Williams led Emmanuel's top pair in the first set, while Madelynn Hokanson andHailey Peterson were also on pace for a win with the lead in their second set after taking the first.
In a tightly contested afternoon dual, Tampa outlasted Vanguard University, winning 3–2 behind clutch performances at the top three courts. Price and Williams held off a tough effort at the 1's, earning a composed 21–16, 21–18 win. The Wolfe twins continued their elite level of play with another dominant showing at the 2's, 21–11, 21–11. The deciding point came at the 3's, where Hokanson and Peterson outlasted their opponents in a gritty three-set battle, 21–12, 17–21, 15–12. At the 4's, Bayes and Green were narrowly edged 21–19, 21–18, while Ostrander and Schreck fell 21–18, 21–16 at the 5's.
With two wins in pool play, the Spartans advanced to Challenge Round 3, where they squared off against Sunshine State Conference rival Eckerd and Texas A&M–Kingsville on Friday. Having already defeated Eckerd twice this season, the Spartans currently hold a 10–3 all-time record against their Bay Area rival. The matchup with Texas A&M–Kingsville marked the first meeting since 2021, with the Spartans owning a 2–1 advantage in the all-time series entering the contest.
In their third meeting of the season with Eckerd, the Spartans delivered a commanding 3–0 sweep to stay unbeaten in the tournament. The Wolfes remained dominant at the 2's, cruising to a 21–13, 21–14 victory. At the 3's, Hokanson and Peterson handled business efficiently with a 21–12, 21–13 win. The 5's pairing of Ostrander and Schreck sailed past the Tritons with a dominant 21–10, 21–1 performance. With the dual secured after those three straight-set wins, the remaining matches at the 1's (Price and Williams) and 4's (Bayes and Green) went unfinished.
Later in the afternoon, Tampa closed out Challenge Round 3 with another dominant 3–0 sweep, this time over Texas A&M–Kingsville. The Wolfe sisters, continued their impressive run at the 2's with a composed 21–13, 21–14 win. At the 3's, Hokanson and Peterson remained rock solid, taking down the Javelinas in straight sets, 21–18, 21–14. The Spartans sealed the dual at the 5's, where Ostrander and Schreck delivered a convincing 21–12, 21–10 victory. Simialr to the previous matches, with the outcome already decided, the flights at the 1's (Price and Williams) and 4's (Bayes and Green) were left unfinished despite competitive play.
Tampa 3, Emmanuel 0
1. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) vs. Ellie Jackson/Izabela Zukowska (EUWB) – No result
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Aaliyah Lobendahn/Cailin Pritchard (EUWB) – 21–11, 21–7
3. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) vs. Leah Van Wyngarden/Kaleigh Morawietz (EUWB) – No result
4. Anna Bayes/Brooke Green (UT) def. Samantha Dibene/Izabel Miller (EUWB) – 21–9, 21–7
5. Sammie Ostrander/Meghan Schreck (UT) def. Faith Kelly/Mattison Farrow (EUWB) – 21–7, 21–4
Tampa 3, Vanguard 2
1. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) def. Thea Snider/Emma Galloway (VU) – 21–16, 21–18
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Paige Cutwright/Madison Arnold (VU) – 21–11, 21–11
3. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) def. Katie Alexander/Anne Mayfield (VU) – 21–12, 17–21, 15–12
4. Gianna Pecile/Cassie Smits VanOyen (VU) def. Anna Bayes/Brooke Green (UT) – 21–19, 21–18
5. Logan Daniels/Natalie Hill (VU) def. Sammie Ostrander/Meghan Schreck (UT) – 21–18, 21–16
Tampa 3, Eckerd 0
1. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) def. Brooke Hand/Anna Jupin (EC) – No result
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Teagan VanderMey/Ella Kloepper (EC) – 21–13, 21–14
3. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) def. Addie White/Madison Harbarger (EC) – 21–12, 21–13
4. Anna Bayes/Brooke Green (UT) def. Emma Samuelson/Mariana Olivares Cely (EC) – No result
5. Samantha Ostrander/Meghan Schreck (UT) def. Jessi Meghreblian/Marti Lu Boser (EC) – 21–10, 21–11
Tampa 3, Texas A&M–Kingsville 0
1. Elizabeth Price/Angel Williams (UT) vs. Liana Huesca/Rylan Pollard (TAMUK) – No result
2. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Kalani Vasquez/Madelyn Wallace (TAMUK) – 21–13, 21–14
3. Madelynn Hokanson/Hailey Peterson (UT) def. Laura Betsa/Taylor McCarthy (TAMUK) – 21–18, 21–14
4. Anna Bayes/Brooke Green (UT) vs. Emma Daugherty/Meghan Stiefer (TAMUK) – No result
5. Samantha Ostrander/Meghan Schreck (UT) def. Clara Presmanes-Garate/Elizabeth Williams (TAMUK) – 21–12, 21–10