PANAMA CITY, Fla. – It's extremely difficult to beat the same team three times in a row at the same tournament, and that stood as factual today in the NAIA Beach Volleyball National Championship match, as the No. 2-ranked Corban University Beach Volleyball team (22-6) fell to the No. 3-ranked Vanguard University Lions (21-5) by a final score of 3-1.
The Lions posted two comeback pair wins in order to best the Warriors in their third matchup in the past three days, as their top overall pair and third pair each dropped their opening sets before winning the next two that would clinch their first national championship and even the Red Banner count between these two powerhouse beach volleyball universities.
"Winning a national championship isn't easy. It if was, everyone would have a title," Warriors' Head Coach Diana Villalpando began with sharing after her team's heartbreaking end to the 2023 season. "We got ours last year, and Vanguard deserved it this year."
When asked to breakdown the match results, Villalpando said, "There was a point in the dual that it could have gone either way. When push came to shove, they were more aggressive towards the end of sets, and we played a little more fearfully, making some pivotal mistakes that ultimately cost us the match and the title."
Villalpando carried on about their opponent today by stating, "Vanguard is a very good team. Our ladies battled to the end with them. It was hard fought with all the pairs going to three sets other than their twos and our fives. We had set point with our fours as well that would have swung some momentum. Overall, a heart breaker for sure."
Finally, Villalpando concluded the 2023 season by sharing, "My heart goes out to the seniors on the team, and I hope this is a great learning moment that the underclassmen can take to heart while preparing for next year. This was still another great accomplishment by the program, but our expectations are high, and I know it hurts, and it should. To be so close to another title and not come out with the win will surely pull on the heart strings."
Senior Jolinn Daviscourt and redshirt sophomore Kalisi Latu, who both competed in their final matches as Warriors, were the lone pair donning the Navy and Gold that was able to secure a pair victory before a decision was reached.
Credit goes to a feisty Vanguard lineup that flipped their 0-5 sweep against Corban on Thrusday into a National Championship trophy, performing almost identically what the Warriors were able to do to the Lions in 2022. Needless to say, these two teams are far from having their last NAIA National Invitational matchup for years to come.
The full results from today's pair matchups can be found below:
Vanguard 3, Corban 1
1. Conley Harris and Morgan Nash (VU) def. Megan Dennis and Avari Ridgway (CRB); (17-21, 21-18, 15-13)
2. Emma Galloway and Hannah Wilme (VU) def. Cameron Keeling and Kianna Keeling (CRB); (21-15, 21-15)
3. Madi Nash and Emilee Hall (VU) vs. Kealani Ontai and Ally Schmidt (CRB); (16-21, 21-17, 14-12)
4. Bailey Coffin and Madison Arnold (VU) def. Maya Blake and Jessica McMillian (CRB); (23-21, 15-21, 15-12)
5. Jolinn Daviscourt and Kalisi Latu (CRB) def. Chloe Knudson and Ana Broadhead (VU); (21-15, 22-20)
The Warriors conclude the 2023 season with an overall record of 23-5, setting a new program record for fewest losses in a season and tying their program best for single season wins from last season. They graduate seven of 10 starting pair student-athletes and will look to utilize their roster depth going into next season in one they expect to repeat as one of the last remaining teams at the NAIA National Invitational. A Warriors versus Lions three-peat to decide the true NAIA Beach Volleyball franchise school could be on the horizon once again.
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