Volleyball Voices

Fuller, Carlson Named USC Women's Sand Volleyball Assistant Coaches

Fuller, Carlson Named USC Women's Sand Volleyball Assistant Coaches

 

LOS ANGELES--Andrew Fuller, a pro beach volleyball player who was an assistant coach at Long Beach State last season, has been named an assistant coach with the USC women’s sand volleyball team, Trojan head coach Anna Collier announced today.

Additionally, former USC men’s player Jeff Carlson, who has international playing experience with the beach game and also has coached on the beach, has been named a volunteer assistant coach with the Women of Troy sand team.

Fuller helped the 49ers finish as runners-up at the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship in 2012, the inaugural year for women’s sand volleyball as an NCAA emerging sport.

He also coached with the USA Volleyball beach program in 2012.  He is certified through the USAV Beach Coaching Accreditation Program.

From 2009 to 2011, he was a coach with the boys and girls indoor teams at West Torrance (Calif.) High.

The 28-year-old Fuller, who is 6-10, has played pro beach volleyball since 2007, with 8 Top 10 finishes (and 25 placings in the Top 25) in the 37 tournaments he has played.  He and partner Mark Van Zwieten finished fifth at the 2011 Pan American Games.

He played on the men’s club volleyball indoor team at Virginia Tech, garnering All-American honors.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Virginia Tech in 2006 and a master’s degree in photography from the Academy of Art in San Francisco in 2011.  He is a professional photographer.

Carlson appeared in 24 matches in his 4-year (2009-12) USC career as a setter and outside hitter, with 4 starts.  The Trojans appeared in the NCAA Final Four 3 times (2009-11-12) during his tenure.

Carlson, 22, has been a coach at the USA Beach Volleyball High Performance Camp for the past 3 years and is a Beach IMPACT certified coach.

He and former Trojan 2012 National Player of the Year Tony Ciarelli tied for fifth at the 2011 World University Games beach competition in China, were fifth at the 2011 USA Volleyball international development qualifier beach tourney in Playa Del Rey (Calif.) and then were 13th at the National Volleyball League beach tourney in Malibu (Calif.).  The duo also participated in the 2010 AVP Hermosa Beach Open and was runner-up at the 2008 FIVB Youth (U-19) Beach World Championships in the Netherlands.  He and Connor Hughes tied for fifth at the 2010 FIVB Junior (U-21) World Beach Championships in Turkey and he also competed in the 2009 FIVB Junior World Beach Championships in England with Will Montgomery.  He was on the 2008 USA Volleyball Men’s Junior National A2 team.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in public policy, management and planning in 2012.

UC Irvine Women’s Volleyball: Anteater Trio To Train Wih USA Beach Volleyball Teams

ANTEATER TRIO TO TRAIN WITH USA BEACH TEAMS

 

IRVINE, Calif. --- Current UC Irvine women’s volleyball players, Aly Squires (Santa Ynez/Santa Ynez Valley Union HS) and Mackenzi Campbell (Costa Mesa/Montana State) have been invited to train with the USA U21 Beach National Training team while Anteater alumna, Juliane Piggott, will train with the U26 Beach team.

 

Squires was an All-Big West honorable mention honoree after leading UCI in kills with 355 and averaging 3.41 per set to sit seventh in the Big West last year.  Squires was second on the team in digs (329) and third in blocks (67) and the outside hitter, who will be a junior this fall, finished fifth in the Anteater season records with 1,284 attempts.

 

Campbell, a transfer from Montana State, saw action in six contests in her first year with the UCI program and picked up a dig.

 

Piggott played at UCI from 2009-10, earning AVCA All-America honorable mention accolades as a junior. In two seasons Piggott put away 606 kills and fired 47 aces while posting 416 digs. She was voted an All-Big West first-team choice in 2009 after recording 353 kills and was 10th in the Big West with a 3.15 kill average. Piggott also had a team-high 13 solo blocks to go along with 39 block assists to finish the season fourth in total blocks that same year.  

 

Practices for the beach teams will run through August and rosters will be pared down in late July to 9-12 athletes. Athletes on the final roster will compete in the High Performance Championships July 21-22 in Hermosa, Calif.

 

FIU Volleyball -- FIU Signs First-Ever Sand Volleyball Class

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

 

********************************************************************************************************************************

FIU Volleyball -- FIU Signs First-Ever Sand Volleyball Class

MIAMI (April 30, 2012) – Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett has received National Letters of Intent (NLI) from seven student-athletes, as Maryna Samoday, Emily Podschweit, Jekaterina Steponova, Ashley Prince, Elly Citron, Jessica Mendoza and Kathryn Leckinger make up FIU’s first-ever sand volleyball signing class. The Panthers are set to begin competition in the spring of 2013.

 

“We are extremely excited to keep moving forward with the sand volleyball program, and the signing of this inaugural class is the next big step,” said Buck-Crockett. “These players are really looking forward to being here, not only from a volleyball standpoint, but from an educational standpoint as well. This team has a great level of ambition and raw talent, and these young women know that each and every one of them has a unique opportunity to be a part of something great here at FIU. We can’t wait to get started.”

 

With her commitment to FIU, Podschweit becomes the state of Colorado’s first-ever beach volleyball recruit. The Parker, Colo., native led Chaparral High School to back-to-back indoor state championships in 2010 and 2011, and is a two-time all-state 5A selection at the libero position. Podschweit brings extensive sand experience to FIU, having participated in numerous events on the USA Beach Volleyball circuit, most recently competing in the invite-only USA High Performance Holiday Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., for the second-straight year.

 

Samoday will be a double-threat for FIU as she will serve as a member of both the indoor and sand volleyball teams. The Sumy, Ukraine, native played two seasons at Seminole State College, earning 2010 All-Region recognition and MVP All-Region honors. Samoday, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, led the Trojans to their third-straight Region II Championship in 2011 as SSC compiled a record of 35-5.

 

Stepanova is a transfer from Florida State, as the Seminoles finished third at the first-ever AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships this past weekend, while Stepanova and teammate Jace Pardon finished third in the pairs competition. A two-year starter on the FSU indoor volleyball team, the Riga, Latvia, native helped lead the Seminoles to the 2011 NCAA Final Four. Stepanova earned All-ACC recognition and was named an AVCA Second Team All-American, making her the second FSU volleyball player to ever earn non-honorable mention All-America honors.

 

Prince was a multi-sport athlete in high school, having led her squads to indoor district, regional and state championships. The Aubrey, Texas, native set an Aubrey High School record for most blocks, digs and aces all in one match and earned second team all-district team accolades in 2010 at Liberty Christian High School. Prince owns significant sand experience, competing in the AAU Junior Olympics and numerous USA Volleyball High Performance invite-only and USAV Beach Tour events.

 

Citron hails from Mountain Grove, Mo., where she was a three-time all-conference and all-district selection at Mountain Grove High School. The 5-foot-11 middle hitter spent two seasons at Drury University, and is coming off a campaign in which she led the Panthers with 51 block assists and was second on the team in total blocks (56).

 

Mendoza comes to FIU from Valencia College, as she previously played one season of indoor competition at Saint Leo University in 2010-11, and the previous year at Broward College. The Winter Park, Fla., native garnered first team all-state and all-conference honors while at

Broward, and led her Winter Park High School squad to a state championship as a sophomore. Additionally, Mendoza played for the Orlando Volleyball Academy club team.

 

Leckinger hails from Tallahassee, Fla., and was a four-year letterwinner at Lawton Chiles High School, where she earned Offensive Player of the Year accolades as a freshman and Offensive MVP honors as a sophomore. Leckinger also has club experience, having spent time with the North Florida Volleyball Academy and Pro Style Volleyball Club.

 

 

 

 

Sand Volleyball: AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships Airs on CBS Sports Network

Sand Volleyball: AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships Airs on CBS Sports Network

MALIBU, Calif. – Coverage of the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships will broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, beginning this Wednesday, June 6 with the first of two one-hour specials. This Wednesday’s broadcast, starting at 6 p.m. (PT) will feature the pairs championship semifinals between Florida State and Long Beach State, as well as highlights from the entire weekend.  Next week Wednesday, June 13, coverage of the pairs title match between Pepperdine’s Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross and Caitlin Ledoux and Tara Roenicke of Long Beach State will take center stage at 7 p.m.

The inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship, which was held April 27-29 in Gulf Shores, Ala., featured both a team championship and a pairs championship. Pepperdine claimed both crowns, first winning the team championship on April 28 after dropping the College of Charleston and Long Beach State twice.

Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) and Ross (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad Seaside Academy), as well as Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) and Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) represented the Waves in the pairs championship. After both pairs went undefeated in pool play on the opening day, they were awarded with the top two seeds in Sunday’s single-elimination bracket tournament.

All four were named to the first-ever AVCA All-American class, consisting of 10 total student-athletes.

Racich and Ross topped Frederick and Hill in the cross over semifinal before coming from behind to down Ledoux and Roenicke in the championship match. The Pepperdine duo was down 11-14 in the final set before rattling off five unanswered points to win the first-ever championship title in the emerging sport of sand volleyball.

The Waves’ national team title was the 12^th overall championship in the school’s history, but the first by any women’s team at Pepperdine. Similarly, Racich and Ross were the first Pepperdine women to win an individual national championship. Prior to 2012, the Waves have won three men’s tennis doubles titles, one singles crown, and five men’s track and field individual championships.

You can read about all 22 of Pepperdine’s national championship winning teams and student-athletes here.

A camera crew from CBS Sports Network was on hand during the entire championship weekend. The televised specials will feature match footage, as well as exclusive player interviews, expert analysis, and sideline reporting.

About CBS Sports Network
CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers including Verizon FiOS Channel 94 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 643 (1643 in HD) and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

ULM Athletics Adds Women’s Sand Volleyball

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

 

IslandSurf

Get Free Shipping on Reef Sandals for men and women at IslandSurf.com

Get Free Shipping on popular gift ideas at IslandSurf.com

Free Shipping at your Spring Break Headquarters: Islandsurf.com

HUGE selection of sandals, clothes and gear from REEF, RAINBOW, QUIKSILVER, ROXY, BILLABONG, AND RIPCURL on sale @ IslandSurf.com

Free Shipping on classic short and tall UGG boots now available at IslandSurf.com

Get Free Shipping on beachwear from Billabong, Roxy, Hurley, O'Neill on orders over $40 at IslandSurf.com

Free Shipping on Reef Sandals for guys and girls at IslandSurf.com

THE MOST SANDALS on EARTH @ IslandSurf.com

********************************************************************************************************************************

 

ULM Athletics Adds Women’s Sand Volleyball

MONROE, La. – ULM director of athletics Bobby Staub announced today the addition of women’s sand volleyball to the university’s intercollegiate sports program.  The Warhawks will begin competition in the spring of 2013.

“Adding sand volleyball makes a great deal of sense to us at this time,” said Staub.  “First and foremost it allows additional opportunities for young women to compete as student-athletes at the Division I level. We already have the facilities in place and our present volleyball coaching staff has the knowledge base and expertise to launch the program.”

With the addition of women’s sand volleyball, ULM now features 17 intercollegiate sports, including: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s indoor track & field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis and volleyball.

“We are really excited to be involved in the ground level as sand volleyball is gaining interest around the country” said ULM head coach Ernest Vasquez.  “It is also a benefit to the local community as they have to opportunity to watch volleyball in a different arena as we will now compete year-round.”

Women's sand volleyball, listed as a spring sport, was recently recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport and competition began at the Division I level during the 2011-12 academic year.

The format for a sand volleyball competition is as follows: The competition will consist of five doubles teams competing in a flighted dual or tournament competition.  The dual meet winner will be the squad claiming three of the five matches.  In a tournament setting, individual winners can be named in each flight and the team champion is the one totaling the highest overall amount of points over the five brackets.

Sand Volleyball: Racich and Ross Win AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Pairs Championship

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Sand Volleyball: Racich and Ross Win AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Pairs Championship

 

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross came up with a giant come-from-behind effort in the finals to capture the first AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship pairs title. The win comes just one day after the Waves won the team championship.

Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) and Ross (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad Seaside Academy), who were the 16-team brackets’ No. 2 seed, cruised through the first three rounds, never dropping a set.

In the championship match, the duo found themselves down 11-14 in the third set before rattling off five unanswered points to clinch the championship.

“I thought Caitlin and Summer hung in there and played very well today and the whole tournament,” said head coach Nina Matthies. “The whole team played well all weekend. I’m very proud of them, and what this means for Pepperdine.”

Also competing in the pairs championship were seniors Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) and Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS), who had earned the No. 1 seed following Friday’s pool play.

In the first match of the day, Racich and Ross downed Elyse Chubb and Lizzie Theesfeld of the College of Charleston 21-9, 21-11, while Frederick and Hill defeated Alabama-Birmingham’s Kirsten Gallagher and Heather Thomas 21-11, 21-11.

Racich and Ross battled with USC’s top team of Geena Urango and Sara Shaw in the quarterfinals. The Wave tandem edged the Trojans in the first frame 21-19, before riding the momentum to a 21-9 victory in set two.

On the other side of the bracket, Frederick and Hill also faced a local rival in Haleigh Hampton and Chelsea Cabrajac of Long Beach State. Pepperdine proved to be too much for the 49ers and put the match away 21-11, 21-16.

Officials elected to cross over the semifinal match ups, which meant the two Pepperdine teams faced off in the semifinals. Racich and Ross came out on top with a two-set win against their teammates.

The championship match featured Racich and Ross versus Tara Roenicke and Caitlin Ledoux. The 49ers, who were seeded fifth, earned the early advantage in the first set, and Ross and Racich were unable to overcome the deficit.  Long Beach went on to win 21-14.

The Waves answered in the second set, jumping out to a 12-9 lead before Roenicke and Ledoux closed the gap to one. Ross and Racich continued to fight however, and a late run secured the 21-15 win to force a third and deciding set.

The final stanza played out point-for-point from start to finish. Tied at eight, LBSU went on a 6-3 run to give themselves three match points at 11-14.

Pepperdine refused to give up, however, and score three points behind the serve of Racich to knot the score once again.  The Waves continued to fight and scored once more to earn match point. With Racich still at the service line, the junior dished an ace to clinch the first-ever sand volleyball pairs championship crown.

The Waves, who won the inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Team Championship on Saturday, conclude the first-ever season with a perfect 17-0 record.

CBS Sports Network will televise portions of the competition in two hour-long specials. Part 1 of their coverage will air beginning on Wednesday, June 6 at 9 p.m. (PT) and Part 2 will begin airing on Wednesday, June 13, also at 6 p.m.

2012 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Pairs Championship
Round of 16
No. 1 Frederick/Hill (PEP) def. No. 16 Gallagher/Thomas (UAB) 21-11, 21-11
No. 2 Racich/Ross (PEP) def. No. 15 Chubb/Theesfeld (CoC) 21-9, 21-11

Quarterfinals
No. 1 Frederick/Hill (PEP) def. No. 9 Hampton/Cabrajac (LBSU) 21-11, 21-16
No. 2 Racich/Ross (PEP) def. No. 10 Urango/Shaw (USC) 21-19, 21-8

Semifinals
No. 2 Racich/Ross (PEP) def. No. 1 Frederick/Hill (PEP) 21-9, 21-17

Finals
No. 2 Racich/Ross (PEP) def. No 5 Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) 14-21, 21-15, 16-14

# # #

FAU Sand Volleyball: Pizzoccheri and Marras Tate Finish 9th at Sand Volleyball Nationals

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

FAU Sand Volleyball: Pizzoccheri and Marras Tate Finish 9^th at Sand Volleyball Nationals

Marras Tate Has 16 Kills In Loss

                                                                                                                 

BOCA RATON, FL (April 29, 2012) – Joanne Marras Tate and Alessia Pizzoccheri finished 9 at the Sand Volleyball National Championships on Sunday.

            The Owls completed Friday’s pool play round behind only Florida State and in front of Stetson, UAB, College of Charleston and UNF as the best team in their region.  FAU lost to the University of Southern California in the round of 16 in straight sets (21-16, 24-22).

            Marras Tate had 16 kills while Pizzoccheri had eight kills and two blocks in the loss.

.  

                                                            - FAU -

 

LBSU Sand Volleyball: Ledoux and Roenicke Fall One Point Short in Pairs Championship Match

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

LBSU Sand Volleyball: Ledoux and Roenicke Fall One Point Short in Pairs Championship Match

 

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Long Beach State’s top team of Caitlin Ledoux and Tara Roenicke nearly pulled off a stunning upset of Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross of Pepperdine, but came up just short in a 14-21, 21-15, 16-14 three-set loss in the inaugural sand volleyball pairs national championship.

 

                Roenicke and Ledoux reached the finals after defeating both of Florida State’s top teams, defeating Newgard and Tiegs 21-17, 21-14 before defeating Stepanova and Pardon 21-19, 17-21, 15-18 in the semifinals.

 

                The pair then got off to a hot start in the championship match, taking down Racich and Ross 21-14 in the first set, but the Waves evened the match with a 21-15 win in the second.

 

                Ledoux and Roenicke fell behind 8-6 in the final set, but battled back to tie the score at 8-8, and then pushed out to a 14-11 lead. After the side switch, however, the Waves recovered, scoring five straight points to finish out the match and hand the 49ers the loss in the finals.

 

                Long Beach State’s other pair, Chelsea Cabrajac and Haleigh Hampton, opened up the day with a win in the round of 16 against Hartong and Stoltzman of Hawaii, but lost in the quarterfinals to Pepperdine’s Lilla Frederick and Kim Hill 21-11, 21-16.

 

                The 49ers also finished behind Pepperdine in the team finals, falling to the Waves after advancing past every other team in the nation.

 

 

Round of 16

Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) def. Melville/Bassett (STET)21-11, 21-12

Cabrajac/Hampton (LBSU) def. Hartong/Stoltzman (UH) 22-20, 21-15

 

Quarterfinals

Frederick/Hill (PEP) def. Cabrajac/Hampton (LBSU) 21-11, 21-16

Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) def. Newgard/Tiegs (FSU) 21-17, 21-14

 

Semifinals

Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) def. Stepanova/Pardon (FSU) 21-19, 17-21, 15-8

 

Finals

Racich/Ross (PEP) def. Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) 14-21, 21-15, 16-14

 

 

Sand Volleyball: UAB Duo Falls To Top Seed In Championship Bracket

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Sand Volleyball: UAB Duo Falls To Top Seed In Championship Bracket

Thomas, Gallagher wrap up play at inaugural sand volleyball national championship

 

GULF SHORES, Ala. -- The UAB duo of Heather Thomas and Kirsten Gallagher saw its weekend at the first-ever AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Pairs Championship come to an end Sunday morning with a loss to the top-seeded team from Pepperdine.

 

The 16th-seeded Blazer tandem dropped a 21-11, 21-11 decision to a pair of Pepperdine All-Americans, Lilla Frederick and Kim Hill, in the first round of the single-elimination championship bracket.

 

“We played really well today even though scores don’t indicate it,” UAB head coach Hal Messersmith said. “We made some great shots, but it’s tough when the other team is as good as they are and they barely make any errors.

 

“Kim Hill is one of the best volleyball players I’ve seen, period. Some of our opponents this weekend weren’t just NCAA caliber, they were Olympic caliber, so it was a great opportunity to play against them.”

 

Frederick and Hill went on to advance to the semifinals of Sunday’s championship bracket before falling to another Pepperdine duo, the eventual national champion pair of Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross. Thomas and Gallagher had previously played Racich and Ross on Friday during the pool-play portion of the championship.

 

“Heather and Kirsten played hard this weekend, and it was a great experience for us,” Messersmith said. “We had one of the only teams, if not the only team, at the championship that didn’t have any real sand experience before this season. But they represented UAB really well, and a lot of people commented on our program. It was an experience we can use to make our program better.”

 

Sand volleyball is in its first season as an intercollegiate sport, having been deemed an emerging sport by the NCAA in 2011. The championship in this first season was sponsored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).

UAB's tandem of Thomas and Gallagher was one of eight pairs to receive at-large berths into the field. The other eight pairs were invited automatically for being one of the top two pairs on one of the four teams selected for the team championship.

 

In addition to having the pairs champion and putting two duos in Sunday’s semifinals, Pepperdine also won the team championship, contested Saturday.

 

“It was a great championship and a wonderful atmosphere,” Messersmith said. “The Gulf Shores community did a great job of running the tournament, and I think this weekend will only help the sport take off even more.”

 

-- CALL US UAB --

Sand Volleyball: Pepperdine Wins Inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Sand Volleyball: Pepperdine Wins Inaugural AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship

Click here for highlights and interviews: http://pepperdinesports.cstv.com/allaccess/?media=317703

Click here for photogallery: http://www.pepperdinesports.com/view.gal?id=118910

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Pepperdine women’s sand volleyball team made history today on the beaches of Gulf Shores, winning the first-ever AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship. The Waves defeated Long Beach State in the finals, 5-0.

This is the 20^th national title, either by a team or an individual, for Pepperdine, but it is the first one captured by a women’s team.

The Waves, who finish their first season a perfect 17-0, downed College of Charleston to open the day, before defeating the 49ers 3-2 in the semifinals. Long Beach State fought its way out of the elimination bracket by beating Florida State for the second time today to advance to the finals.

In the championship match, Pepperdine shot out to an early lead by winning the first set on all five courts.

Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad Seaside Academy) and Caitlin Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) were the first to finish, topping Caitlin Ledoux and Tara Roenicke, 22-15, 21-11.

It was a flurry of excitement after that, with the next three matches all finishing within about two minutes of one another.

Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) and Kellie Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) bounced back from a tough showing against Jocelyn Neely and Lauren Minkel in the semifinals to beat the 49er pair 21-16, 21-8 in the finals.

On court five, Emily Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) and Michaela Christiaansen (Tucson, Ari./Ironwood Ridge HS) took care of business, scoring a 21-16, 22-20 decision versus Janisa Johnson and Tyler Jackson.

Simultaneously, Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) and Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) put the finishing touches on a 21-14, 21-18 triumph over Haleigh Hampton and Chelsea Cabrajac.

Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) and Kelley Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) won the first set 21-16, but trailed 17-18 in the second when Delainey Aigner-Swesey and Libby Fontanilla forfeited the match.

Hill, Frederick, Racich and Ross were named to the 10-player AVCA All-American team in a ceremony following the match. Other members of the inaugural class include Jane Croson (Hawaii), Ledoux, Roenicke, Brittany Tiegs (Florida State), Jekaterina Stepanova (Florida State) and Aurora Newgard (Florida State).

Pepperdine’s four All-Americans conclude the AVCA Collegiate Sand National Championship tomorrow with the pairs tournament. Hill and Frederick earned the top seed in the 16-team bracket, while Racich and Ross took the No. 2 seed.

Pepperdine 5, Long Beach State 0
1. Racich/Ross def. Ledoux/Roenicke, 21-15, 21-11
2. Frederick/Hill def. Hampton/Cabrajac, 21-14, 21-18
3. Larsen/Robinson def. Aigner-Swesey/Fontanilla, 21-16, 17-18, forfeit
4. Woolever/Adelhelm def. Neely/Minkel, 21-16, 21-8
5. Christiaansen/Cook def. Johnson/Jackson, 21-16, 22-20

# # #

Seminole Sand Volleyball Builds Momentum with Undefeated Day 1 at Nationals

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Seminole Sand Volleyball Builds Momentum with Undefeated Day 1 at Nationals

Seminoles Build Momentum with Undefeated Day 1 at Nationals

Florida State faces Long Beach State at Noon CT to start the team championship Saturday

 

GULF SHORES, Ala. – At Thursday’s practice Florida State sand volleyball head coach Danalee Corso said great performances from her top two pairs on the first day of the Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship would be key to provide the Seminoles with momentum heading into Saturday’s team championship.

 

The Garnet and Gold got just that out of the tandems of junior Aurora Newgard and sophomore Brittany Tiegs, and senior Jekaterina Stepanova and freshman Jace Pardon on Friday on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala.

 

The Noles went a perfect 6-0 and won a trio of three-set battles during pool play of the 16-team pairs portion of the weekend. Stepanova and Pardon captured the No. 3 seed in Sunday’s pairs championship by winning Pool D. Tiegs and Newgard grabbed the No. 4 seed by winning Pool A, including capturing the day’s final match, an epic three-setter over Hawaii’s No. 1 tandem of Jane Croson and Ashley Lee.

 

Most importantly, the exciting and successful first day will give FSU a strong push into the four-team double-elimination team championship that begins Saturday at 11 a.m. CT when first-seed Pepperdine takes on fourth-seed College of Charleston. The second-seeded Seminoles will face third-seed Long Beach State at 12 p.m. CT.

 

“This will give us momentum, but those two teams will be a little tired,” Corso said. “Thankfully, we are very well conditioned. The goal is to become the first-ever collegiate sand volleyball national champions tomorrow.”

 

Tiegs and Newgard dropped their first set to of the day to Long Beach State’s Haleigh Hampton and Chelsea Cabrajac, 21-19, before cruising in the next two sets, 21-17, 15-8, to win. The Nole pair then blew past College of Charleston’s Emily Shelton and Kelly Kolich, 21-10, 21-17.

 

Tiegs and Newgard had been looking to gain revenge against Croson and Lee since the Rainbow Wahine tandem downed the Seminole duo in three sets at the UNF Invitational pairs final on April 1.

 

Friday’s match was another three-setter. After Tiegs and Newgard handedly grabbed the first set, 21-18, Croson and Lee outlasted the Garnet and Gold pair, 30-28, in set two. Trailing 13-9 in the final set, the FSU tandem dug deep, fought back to snag an emotional 16-14 to keep FSU undefeated on the day.

 

“That was a phenomenal win,” Tiegs said. “We’d been gunning for them, and they had been gunning for us. We got our revenge and finally beat them. We started off a little slow, but that happens. We definitely picked it up for sure as soon as we got our momentum going. It’s great to go 3-0 in our pool.”

 

Pardon and Stepanova also had an impressive three-set victory over Hawaii of their own in their second match of the day. After routing UNF’s Dagnija Medina and Emily Strack, 21-10, 21-17, the Seminole pair dropped its first set to the Rainbow Wahine team of Emily Hartong and Elizabeth Stoltzman, 21-19, but rallied to take the second set 21-14. The FSU tandem was down 13-11 in the third set, before scoring four straight points to win the match.

 

Pardon and Stepanova ended their day with a straight-set 21-14, 21-17 victory over Southern California’s Geena Urango and Sara Shaw.

 

“Today was amazing,” Corso said. “Brittany and Aurora were spectacular. They’re not the most physical team here, but they have so many tools in their repertoire. They used every one today. They’ve won three of five tournaments this season. To win major events is a skill in itself. They have that. They proved today they are mature players, and so did Jace and Kate today.”

 

Pepperdine’s top two teams won Pools B and C without dropping a set to grab the first two seeds of Sunday’s pairs tournament.

 

The Seminole teams will be on opposite ends of the pairs bracket and wouldn’t meet until the finals. The single-elimination pairs tournament begins at 8 a.m. CT on Sunday and the championship match will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT.

 

Saturday’s team championship final will be at approximately 5 p.m.

 

Also competing for the Noles on Saturday will be the No. 3 team of senior Mallory Kiley and graduate student Caitlin Haworth, the No. 4 duo of senior Visnja Djurdjevic and freshman Stephanie Pellitteri, and the No. 5 squad of junior Fatma Yildirm and sophomore Jeassica McGregor.

 

For more information on the Florida State sand volleyball team, follow the Seminoles on Twitter at: @FSU_SVB.

 

Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships

Pairs Tournament Pool Play

at Gulf Shores, Ala.– April 27, 2012
FSU Results

 

Pool A

Tiegs/Newgard (FSU) def. Hampton/Cabrajac (LBSU) – 19-21, 21-17, 15-8

Tiegs/Newgard (FSU) def. Shelton/Kolich (CC) – 21-12, 21-10

Tiegs/Newgard (FSU) def. Croson/Lee (UH) – 21-18, 28-30, 16-14

 

Pool D

Stepanova/Pardon (FSU) def. Medina/Strack (UNF) – 21-10, 21-17

Stepanova/Pardon (FSU) def. Hartong/Stoltzman (UH) – 19-21, 21-14, 15-13

Stepanova/Pardon (FSU) def. Urango/Shaw (SC) – 21-14, 21-17

 

-www.seminoles.com-

Long Beach State Finishes as National Runner-Up in Inaugural NCAA Sand Volleyball Season

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Long Beach State Finishes as National Runner-Up in Inaugural NCAA Sand Volleyball Season

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Long Beach State handed Florida State its first loss of the season, and then defeated the Seminoles a second time to reach the first-ever National Championship match in Sand Volleyball, but lost 3-0 to Pepperdine in the finals on Saturday. Caitlin Ledoux and Tara Roenicke were both selected as All-Americans in the first year of the sport.

 

                Long Beach State, as the at-large selection and third seed, started the day by playing Florida State, the second seed in the four-team tournament. Led by Ledoux and Roenicke, who defeated Newgard/Tiegs in three sets, Long Beach State handed the Seminoles their first loss of the season 3-2 to advance to face the winner of the other preliminary match, Pepperdine.

 

                After falling to the Waves, the 49ers had to again face Florida State in the back draw of the double-elimination tournament, but again prevailed, as Janisa Johnson and Tyler Jackson won a thrilling 23-21, 23-21 match in the fifth flight over Wickstrom and Yildirim, while the 49ers welcomed the return of Delainey Aigner-Swesey as she partnered with Libby Fontanilla for a second win on the day over the Seminoles’ Haworth/Kiley in the third flight.

 

                Faced with another chance against Pepperdine in the national championship, the 49ers were unable to upset the Waves, as Pepperdine remained undefeated, winning 3-0 to claim the first-ever national championship in the sport of sand volleyball.

 

                Following the conclusion of play on Sunday, ten players were selected as All-Americans, matching the number needed to fill a team. Caitlin Ledoux and Tara Roenicke were both chosen, representing the 49ers as two of the first-ever Sand Volleyball All-Americans.

 

                Long Beach State still has more action at the AVCA National Sand Championships tomorrow. Ledoux and Roenicke along with Hampton and Cabrajac are two of 16 teams selected to play in a single-elimination tournament to determine the individual national champions on Sunday.

 

(3) Long Beach State 3, (2) Florida State 2

#1: Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) def.  Newgard/Tiegs (FSU), 14-21, 21-16, 15-7

#2:  Pardon/Stepanova (FSU) def. Cabrajac/Hampton (LBSU), 21-17, 21-13

#3: Aigner-Swesey/Fontanilla (LBSU) def. Haworth/Kiley (FSU), 21-19, 21-8

#4: Minkel/Neely (LBSU) def. Djurdjevic/Peliterri (FSU), 26-24, 21-19

#5: McGregor/Yildirim (FSU) def. Jackson/Johnson (LBSU) 21-13, 21-19

 

(1) Pepperdine 3, (3) Long Beach State 0

#1: Racich/Ross (PEP) def. Ledoux/Roenicke 21-14, 21-12

#2: Frederick/Hill (PEP) def. Hampton/Cabrajac 21-7, 21-13

#3: Larsen/Robinson (PEP) def. Aigner-Swesey/Fontanilla 21-19, 21-10

#4: Minkel/Neely (LBSU) vs. Adelhelm/Woolever (PEP), DNF

#5: Jackson/Johnson (LBSU) vs. Christiaansen/Cook (PEP), DNF

 

(3) Long Beach State 3, (2) Florida State 1

#1: Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) vs. Newgard/Tiegs (FSU), DNF

#2: Pardon/Stepanova (FSU) def. Cabrajac/Hampton (LBSU) 21-11, 21-10

#3: Aigner-Swesey/Fontanilla (LBSU) def. Haworth/Kiley (FSU) 21-15, 21-14

#4: Minkel/Neely (LBSU) def. Djurdjevic/Pelliteri (FSU) 21-18, 23-21

#5: Jackson/Johnson (LBSU) def. Wickstrom/Yildirim (FSU) 23-21, 23-21

 

(1) Pepperdine 3, (3) Long Beach State 0

#1: Racich/Ross (PEP) def. Ledoux/Roenicke (LBSU) 21-15, 21-11

#2: Frederick/Hill (PEP) def. Hampton/Cabrajac, (LBSU) 21-14, 21-18

#3: Larsen/Robinson (PEP) vs. Aigner-Swesey/Fontanilla (LBSU) DNF

#4: Woolever/Adelhelm (PEP) def. Neely/Minkel (LBSU) 21-16, 21-8

#5: Christiaansen/Cook (PEP) vs. Johnson/Jackson (LBSU) DNF

 

AVCA Sand All-American Team:

Caitlin Ledoux (Long Beach State)

Tara Roenicke (Long Beach State)

Jane Croson (Hawaii)

Jekaterina Stepanova (Florida State)
Aurora Newgard (Florida State)
Brittney Tiegs (Florida State)

Caitlin Racich (Pepperdine)

Summer Ross (Pepperdine)

Lilla Frederick (Pepperdine)

Kim Hill (Pepperdine)

 

Florida Atlantic Sand Volleyball: Joanne Marras Tate and Alessia Pizzoccheri Complete Pool Play at Nationals

******************************************************************************************************************************

Sponsored Links

Absinthe - Save more than $25!
NEW! Vegas! The Show. Save Over $35 on VIP Seating with Dinner!
See Jersey Boys Live in Las Vegas. Best Rates in Town - Book Today!
Save Big on Le Reve Tickets!
Reserve your tickets for top Vegas Shows and get up to 50% Off
Best prices on Cirque du Soleil - O!
**********************************************************************************************************************************

Florida Atlantic Sand Volleyball: Joanne Marras Tate and Alessia Pizzoccheri Complete Pool Play at Nationals

Duo Will Enter Elimination Phase of Tournament Seeded 11^th

                                                                                                                 

GULF SHORES, AL (April 28, 2012) – The Florida Atlantic sand volleyball tandem of Joanne Marras Tate and Alessia Pizzoccheri completed pool play at the Sand Volleyball National Championships on Friday.  

The duo began pool play Friday morning with a loss to Caitlin Racich and Summer Ross of Pepperdine in straight sets (21-15, 21-15).  In their second match of the day, the Owls to Kirby Burnham and Kelly Irvin of USC 21-14, 21-17 despite 17 kills from Alessia Pizzoccheri. UAB was the opponent in the third and final match of the session. Marras Tate had 17 kills and five digs in the 21-13, 21-17 win.

            Marras Tate and Pizzoccheri were seeded 11^th for the elimination stage of the tournament and will face Burnham and Irvin in a rematch from pool play and the winners will advance to the quarterfinals.

The match will be begin at 9 a.m. eastern and assistant coach Ben Sheu will provide updates via the team’s official Facebook page.

Match results will also be available at www.fausports.com.

- FAU -

 

Sand Volleyball: Pepperdine Opens Championships with 5-0 Sweep Vs. College of Charleston

Sand Volleyball: Pepperdine Opens Championships with 5-0 Sweep Vs. College of Charleston

Click here for match highlights: http://pepperdinesports.cstv.com/allaccess/?media=317622

GULFSHORES, Ala. – The Pepperdine women’s sand volleyball team opened the AVCA Collegiate Sand National Championships with a 5-0 sweep against the College of Charleston. With the win, the Waves advance to the semifinals where they will face either Florida State or Long Beach State.

Kim Hill (Portland, Ore./Portland Christian HS) and Lilla Frederick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Cornelia Connelly HS) put Pepperdine on the board with a 21-12, 21-12 win versus Emily Shelton and Kelly Kolich. Hill served up an ace at match point to secure the victory.

On court four, Victoria Adelhelm (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) and Kellie Woolever (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson HS) downed Emily Neideffer and Sloane White 21-9, 21-17, while Emily Cook (Huntington Beach, Calif./Murrieta Valley HS) and Michaela Christiaansen (Tucson, Ari./Ironwood Ridge HS) put Pepperdine out of reach with a straight set win against Catey Warren and Kallie McKown.

Summer Ross (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad Seaside Academy) and Caitlin Racich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS) continued their dominance, and won their fourth-straight match of the weekend with a 21-16, 21-12 triumph over Elyse Chubb and Lizzie Theesfeld.

Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach, Calif./Mira Costa HS) and Kelley Larsen (Jamul, Calif./Christian HS) took the first frame versus Andi Zbojiniewicz and Kerstin Koehler 21-17, but the Cougars answered with a 23-21 win in set two. The Wave tandem got back on track in the third set and won 15-10 to clinch the Pepperdine sweep.

The Waves face the winner of the Long Beach State/Florida State match at 11 a.m. (PT)/1 p.m. (CT) Fans can follow live score updates on Twitter @PepperdineWVB.

Pepperdine 5, College of Charleston 0
1. Racich/Ross def. Chubb/Theesfeld, 21-16, 21-12
2. Frederick/Hill def. Shelton/Kolich, 21-12, 21-12
3. Larsen/Robinson def. Zbojniewicz/Koehler, 21-17, 21-23, 15-10
4. Woolever/Adelhelm def. Neideffer/White, 21-9, 21-17
5. Christiaansen/Cook def. Warren/McKown, 21-11, 21-17

# # #