GULF SHORES, Ala. – Vanguard finished as the runner-up in the Silver Bracket to conclude the 2025 AVCA Division II Beach Volleyball Championships on Saturday at Gulf Shores Public Beach.
The Lions, placed in a six-team bracket, earned a first round bye. They defeated Eckerd College in the semifinals and met Florida Southern in the finals, a rematch of their meeting in the Challenge Round. The Mocs avenged their earlier defeat with a 3-0 victory in the Silver Bracket championship match.Â
Vanguard departs the state of Alabama with a 12-17 overall record in its first season at the NCAA Division II level.
Vanguard 3, Eckerd College 1
The Lions met Eckerd College for the first time in school history, winning three of the four completed matches.
VU posted a win at the twos as Paige Cutwright and Madison Arnold knocked off Teagan VanDermey and Ella Kloepper by 21-16, 21-18 scores.
The Lions also notched a victory at the fours, where Cassie Smits Van Oyen and Gianna Pecile grabbed a 21-16, 21-19 win against Mariana Olivares-Cely and Emma Samuelson.
The third VU point came from the fives position as Logan Daniels and Natalie Hill earned a 21-12, 21-17 triumph over Marti Boser and Jessi Meghreblian.
Eckerd College garnered a win at the threes, as Madison Hardbarger and Addie White upended Katie Alexander and Anne Mayfield, 21-16, 22-20.
Florida Southern 3, Vanguard 0
The Lions overcame the Mocs 3-2 in the Challenge Round, but could not prevail in the second meeting.
Florida Southern's No. 1 pair of Ashli McKenny and Emma Winford took a 21-19, 21-15 decision over Emma Galloway and Thea Snider.
Cutwright and Arnold dropped a 21-13, 21-18 battle at the twos to the Moc tandem of Nicole Eden and Sydney Melcher.
At the fives, Daniels and Hall could not overcome Mary Olivia Muti and Hayley St. Martin, falling 21-11, 21-16.
