LEXINGTON, Ky. --- Olivia Knutson and Katie McLamb of Tusculum University beach volleyball earned the prestigious Top Flight award, distributed by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). The freshmen duo were the only non-Division I pair listed in their respective flight.
Introduced in 2018, the Top Flight awards program is designed to recognize excellence in collegiate beach volleyball from all over the country and across all flights.
The nature of beach volleyball dictates that each player fills an important role on the team - each pair must give their greatest effort to help the squad clinch the three points necessary to defeat the opponent. It takes all 10 athletes (five pairs) performing at a high level to achieve greatness. With this in mind, the AVCA created this award to reward the hard work and consistent play of pairs at every flight.
In order for a pair to be eligible for the award, two student-athletes must compete in at least 15 matches together and at a specific flight number. Should that pair win at least 75% of their matches—regardless of the overall result of the dual—those athletes will achieve Top Flight status. This year, 63 pairs representing 36 schools—from all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA—qualified for the elite honor.
Knutson and McLamb went 25-6 overall in their first collegiate season, highlighted by a 24-5 mark as Tusculum's No. 4 pair. They started their careers 7-0 and won 11 of their last 12 appearances together. The pair took down six Division I opponents (Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky, Coastal Carolina twice, Mercer, and Jacksonville State) and fought for a reverse sweep of powerhouse Tampa at the AVCA Small College Championship.
As a team, the Pioneers had their winningest season in program history at 22-11, including claiming back-to-back SAC Beach Challenge crowns and finishing the 2022 campaign with the Bronze Playoff A title at the AVCA tournament.
2022 AVCA Top Flight Award
Flight 1
Alejandra Suarez and Lily Witkoski, Ave Maria (NAIA)
Makenna Campbell and Avari Ridgway, Corban (NAIA)
Giada Bianchi and Paige Kalkhoff, Florida International (DI)
Erica Brok and Makenzie Morris, Florida Atlantic (DI)
Kaylee Glagau and Brooke Van Sickle, Hawai'i (DI)
Abby Collier and Camryn Presley, Hendrix (DIII)
Megan Rice and Reka Orsi Toth, Loyola Marymount (DI)
Ania Esarte and Lucie Pokorna, New Orleans (DI)
Lunden Evans and Jazz Schmidt, Palm Beach Atlantic (DII)
Melanie Paul and Madison Shields, Pepperdine (DI)
Julia Sangiacomo and Michelle Shaffer, Santa Clara (DI)
Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, TCU (DI)
Giuliana Poletti Corrales and Brooke Pertuit, Texas A&M Corpus Christi (DI)
Tina Graudina and Haley Harward, USC (DI)
Conley Harris and Natalie Escher, Vanguard (NAIA)
Flight 2
Sarah Blacker and Maja Kaiser, Arizona (DI)
Cabriella Bouterse and Miah Pena, Ave Maria (NAIA)
Hailee Ryan and Sara Ostojic, Concordia Irvine (DII)
Allison Hansen and Allanis Navas, Grand Canyon (DI)
Avery Poppinga and Marine Kinna, Loyola Marymount (DI)
Kylie Deberg and Kelli Greene-Agnew, LSU (DI)
Parker Bracken and Kylie Deberg, LSU (DI)
Grace Cook and Chloe Tome, Missouri State (DI)
Simone Priebe and McKenna Thomas, Pepperdine (DI)
Jordan Smith and Lauren Wilcock, South Carolina (DI)
Charlie Ekstrom and Maddi Kriz, Stanford (DI)
Carolina Ferraris and Anete Namike, Stetson (DI)
Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater, USC (DI)
Morgan Nash and Vashti Elias-Romero, Vanguard (NAIA)
Flight 3
Katie Grose and Zelie Kessler, Ave Maria (NAIA)
Peyton Dueck and Addison Hermstad, Cal Poly (DI)
Ellie Hanford and Natalie Honzovicova, Coastal Carolina (DI)
Emma Falk and Maria Zweig, College of Charleston (DI)
Shannon Evans and Tatum Smith, Concordia Irvine (DII)
Yasmin Kuck and Kayla Whetstone, Georgia State (DI)
Vilhelmiina Prihti and Macy Gordon, Loyola Marymount (DI)
Reilly Allred and Holly Carlton, LSU (DI)
Hailey Brockett and Alexis Filippone, TCU (DI)
Devon Newberry and Jaden Whitmarsh, UCLA (DI)
Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles, USC (DI)
Carly McKinney and Emma Galloway, Vanguard (NAIA)
Flight 4
Gabi Bailey and Kyra Thompson, College of Charleston (DI)
Snowy Burnam and Cortney VanLiew, FGCU (DI)
Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary, Georgia State (DI)
Claire Newlander and Nicci Reinking, Long Beach State (DI)
Vilhelmiina Prihti and Macy Gordon, Loyola Marymount (DI)
Kelli Greene-Agnew and Grace Seits, LSU (DI)
Maria Gonzalez and Ana Vergara, TCU (DI)
Olivia Knutson and Katie McLamb, Tusculum (DII)
Sophie Moore and Natalie Myszkowski, UCLA (DI)
Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse, USC (DI)
Kayla Carrell and Addison Conley, UT Martin (DI)
Flight 5
Sabrina VanDeList and Tye Wedhorn, Colorado Mesa (DII)
Emma Hansen and Kaitlyn Luebbers, FGCU (DI)
Lisa Luini and Kendall Mather, Florida International (DI)
Haley St. Martin and Curry Ward, Florida Southern (DII)
Kate Privett and Raelyn White, Florida State (DI)
Chloee Kleespies and Becky Tresham, Georgia State (DI)
Cami Sanchez and Dana Roskic, Grand Canyon (DI)
Isabelle Reffel and Jacinda Ramirez, Loyola Marymount (DI)
Sierra Caffo and Ellie Shank, LSU (DI)
Melissa Knaut and Maria Ramos, Park (Mo.) (NAIA)
Megan Muret and Rochelle Scott, TCU (DI)
Melea Meadows and Veronica Makovey, Mobile (NAIA)
Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando, USC (DI)
