GULF SHORES, Ala. --- The Tusculum University women's beach volleyball team has been seeded 13th at this weekend's (Apr. 17-19) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championships, taking place in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships is the largest collegiate beach volleyball event in the country with 33 teams competing in 455 total matches during the championship weekend. The event brings together the top beach teams in the country from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA. Team champions will be crowned in each of the three divisions, and there also is a Pairs Challenge event for participating teams.
Teams have been divided into six pools of three teams based on seasonal results through Sunday, April 13. All teams will have two pool play matches on Thursday. On Friday, all teams will be placed in Challenge Round play based on pool results. The first- and second-place teams in each pool will compete in Challenge 1, 2, or 3. The third-place team in each pool will play in Challenge 4 or 5. All teams will have two Challenge Round matches on Friday. Challenges 1, 2 and 3 will be modified pool play. The (6) teams that win the first Challenge Round match will advance to the Gold Bracket. The (6) teams that lose the first Challenge Round match will advance to the Silver Bracket. Byes in the Gold and Silver Bracket will be determined based on the bracket bye procedures referenced below. The first-place team in Challenges 4 and 5 will receive a bye in the Bronze Bracket. The second- and third-place teams in Challenge 4 and 5 will advance to the Bronze quarterfinals.
Championship bracket play will begin on Saturday. Please note that in order to finish early enough for teams to travel home on Saturday afternoon, there are no consolation matches scheduled. When a team loses on Saturday, that will be the last match for the team. All teams will play a minimum of one match and up to three matches on Saturday depending on the results. The Division II Champion will be the winner of the Gold bracket.
The Pioneers are seeded 13th and in Pool A with No. 1 Concordia Irvine and No. 12 Wayne State.
Additionally, Tusculum will be represented by Lindy Carter and Sofia Richmond in the Pairs Challenge. The duo is in Pool H and is grouped with pairings from Palm Beach, Saint Leo, and Colorado Mesa. The Pairs Challenge is a one-day event, taking place solely on Thursday, April 17, with matches scheduled at 11:10 AM and 1:25 PM (EDT).
