GULF SHORES, Ala. – Vanguard finished fourth in the Bronze Bracket to close the 2026 AVCA DII Beach Volleyball Championships on Sunday at Gulf Shores Public Beach.

The Lions entered a four-team field, dropping the semifinals to Florida Southern in straight sets. The third-place matchup against Wingate (N.C.) saw a few tighter sets in the mix, but the bout ultimately went to the Squirrels, who take third place in the bracket with a 3-1 win.

The Blue and Gold end the season 9-18 in its second serving of the NCAA DII era.

Florida Southern 3, Vanguard 0
VU crossed paths with the Mocs in the AVCA Championships for the second straight season, but could not avenge last year's Silver Bracket Championship defeat.

Top-seeded Florida Southern took the win at the ones, with Ryla Bryant and Sydney Melcher squeezing past Thea Snider and Josephine Springer in what stood as the closest pairing between the teams. The Mocs snagged the sets with identical 21-18 scores.

Avery Bennett and Jordan Packer dropped a 21-15 set at the threes. The duo almost pulled a frame back on the board, but were outpaced 22-20 by Hailey Careffot and Sarah Idler.

Florida Southern closed the door at the fours, with FSC's Victoria Rushing and Aubrey Wieser taking the win against Gianna Pecile and Jadyn Starling, 21-14, 21-10.
 
Wingate 3, Vanguard 1
Vanguard's first program matchup against Wingate featured longer sets, but not the result VU wanted in its final match of the season. The third-place matchup started with a VU set win at the ones, as Snider and Springer raced past the Squirrels in a 22-20 result. WU's Kate Beezer and Lilou Thieme wrestled a tight 21-19 score off VU to avoid the Lion win, and the North Carolina pair pulled away in the third game with a 15-6 tally.

Vanguard's sole win in the bracket came via Hayden Johnston and Cassie Smits Van Oyen at the twos. The pair topped Ella Harm and Naomi Hillard in straight sets 21-18, 21-17 to balance the scales.

The Squirrels stood their ground in the third flight, with London Moultrie and Amelia Talbott getting past Bennet and Packer 21-17, 21-16.

The fives saw the introduction of Anne Mayfield and Jenae Moore, who were just outlasted in the opening set 22-20. VU's combo came together in the second stanza, 21-18, but WU's Ragan Ball and Michaela Benfield secured third place with a 15-9 win in the final set of the season.

What Was Said? "A tough season to close," started Head Coach Kris Dorn. "We say goodbye to some amazing young women. I'm proud of our ladies for making some smart adjustments in the cold, wind & rain. It wasn't enough to secure a victory, but we're paving the road for the future together. Win or lose, we're proud of our girls."