GULF SHORES, Ala. – Vanguard begins an unprecedented quest to capture its third straight national title in the sport of beach volleyball, as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Championships begin Thursday on the Gulf Shores Public Beach.

The Lions won back-to-back Red Banners in 2023 and 2024, exiting the NAIA with the coveted knowledge of being the best team in the land. Now, in their first season at the NCAA Division II level, the stakes and the competition are even higher.

Vanguard is one of 18 teams competing for the Division II crown. The teams have been divided into six pools of three teams based on regular season results. VU is grouped in Pool B with No. 2 seed Tampa and No. 14 seed Emmanuel. The Lions are the No. 11 seed. VU will play both opponents 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. 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. No consolation matches will be 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.

Vanguard enters the tournament 9-14 overall. The Lions started the season 8-3. Following a steady diet of NCAA Division I opponents, the Lions have lost 11 of their last 12 contests, but they also have played the likes of Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Pepperdine and California.

The Blue and Gold also has tangled twice with CUI, the No. 1 ranked squad in the Division II bracket.

The top pair for VU has been Emma Galloway and Thea Snider. The twos pair consists of Madison Arnold and Paige Cutwright. 

Saint Katherine transfers Katie Alexander and Anne Mayfield have occupied the No. 3 spot on the ladder. Cassie Smits Van Oyen and Gianna Pecile have locked down the No. 4 position, while Logan Daniels and Natalie Hill compete at the fives.

There is also a Pairs Challenge with 40 pairs entered spread out across 10 pools. VU's entry is Emily Hon and Reece Fisher. They are in Pool E and are scheduled to face Mobile's No. 1 team of Peyton Frazer and Kendall Thomas at 7:10 a.m. (PT) on Thursday.

This is the first time Gulf Shores has been named the host for the Division II Championships, but it is no stranger to hosting, having been the venue for several previous NCAA Division I tournaments.