This post was updated May 3 at 12:51 p.m.

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Since beach volleyball’s inception into the NCAA in 2016, no other school has won an NCAA championship in the sport other than UCLA and USC.

But for the first time in history, neither team can claim the title, let alone compete for the chance in the final. 

After No. 4 seed LMU (38-6) took down four-peat reigning NCAA champion No. 5 seed USC (27-11) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama, No. 1 seed UCLA beach volleyball (32-7) fell to LMU in a five-set loss Saturday to conclude its 2025 season. 

While all Bruin pairs led from early on during Saturday’s match, a cut shot by senior Jessie Smith pushed the threes court to a quick 14-12 lead in the first set against the Lions  – a two-point cushion the pair wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the set, or the match.

After pushing themselves to a 20-12 lead, a deep range line swing from Smith put the Bruins on the board with their first point of the matchup. 

But while the threes court may have found quick victory against the Lions, the team found more struggle on court two, with AVCA Top Flight graduate student Peri Brennan and senior Natalie Myszkowski suffering a quicker 2-0 loss.

Scrappier play on court one forced a longer first set from the duo of MPSF Freshman of the Year Sally Perez with MPSF Player of the Year junior partner Maggie Boyd.

A late tomahawk from Boyd, followed by out-of-system defensive rallies, ultimately pushed the Bruins to their second point before the junior slammed a definitive bounce against her opponents to seal the team’s then-2-1 lead.

And despite the Lions managing to push both remaining courts to three sets after tight losses in the first sets, all the Bruins needed was one more win to send themselves to the final. 

Attention turned to courts four and five. 

But despite the urging cheers of their fellow teammates to complete “one last push,” both courts fell in identical losses – narrow, back-and-forth 15-12 deficits. .

The loss marked the fourth time this season the two teams pushed five sets against each other – with LMU nailing the final coffin on the team’s 2-2 record over UCLA.

While the Lions will wait for the results of Saturday’s second semifinal match – the winner of No. 2 seed TCU and No. 6 seed Cal Poly – no matter what, Sunday’s championship match will feature two teams that have never competed on the collegiate sport’s biggest stage. 

And the Bruins return to Westwood trophy-less.

One program and conference record. Six first-place performances. The Hope College women’s track and field accomplished a lot during the final day of the MIAA Outdoor Championshis on Friday at Alma College.

The Flying Dutch set a meet record in the 4×100 relay and captured five more gold medals in the javelin, 200-, 400- and 800-meter runs, and the 4×400 relay, fueling a third-place total of 147.5 points at the two-day, seven-team event.

The 4×100 relay of junior Ava Schmidt (Saline, Michigan / Saline), junior Catherine Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids), freshman Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic) and junior Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) recorded a winning run of 47.18 seconds, setting Hope and MIAA and meet records.

They passed their own program record of 47.46 set earlier this season and the Flying Dutch’s 2023 MIAA record of 47.72 set by Schmidt, Grace Behrens, Helen Dodge and Schermerhorn.

In the javelin, senior Amanda Timonen (Palatine, Illinois / William Fremd) repeated as MIAA champion after recording a toss of 34.79 meters (114 feet, 1 inch).

Timonen is Hope’s fourth two-time women’s javelin champion, joining Jane Pearson (2015-16), Emily Schlutz (2002-03) and Karen Hoekstra (1985, 1987).

Junior Karly Roelofs (Kingsley, Michigan / Kingsley Area) took sixth at 29.45 meters (96-7).

Schermerhorn sprinted to MIAA titles in the 200 and 400 meters, repeating as the 400 champion. 

In the 400 meters, Schermerhorn raced to a winning time of 55.41 seconds, edging Leahy, who finished runner-up at 56.19, the 28th fastest time in NCAA Division III this season.

Two more Hope runners scored in the event: junior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) in fifth with a PR 59.27 and senior Jasmine Zimmerman (Byron Center, Michigan / Home School) in sixth with a PR 59.56.

In the 200 meters, Schermerhorn won the event for the second time in three seasons by clocking a time of 24.28, the sixth-fastest time in the nation this season, and topping Calvin’s Sydney Radigan, the 100-meter champion, who went :24.49.

Hope grabbed the next two spots: Leahy in third with a OR 25.07 and Fisher in fourth at 25.80.

In the 800 meters, junior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) became the Flying Dutch’s 15th MIAA champion the event by crossing the finish line with a PR 2:13.78.

Two of Durow’s teammates also scored in the event: sophomore Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) in fifth at 2:20.49 and senior senior Noel Vanderbilt (Saugatuck, Michigan / Home School) in seventh with a PR 2:20.55.

The Flying Dutch closed the meet with a dominating run in the 4×400 relay. 

Leahy, Zimmerman, Fisher and Schermerhorn posted a gold-medal winning race of 3:53.96, 8.07 seconds ahead of runner-up The University of Olivet.

“It’s fun to win events, and we won a lot of events,” head coach Kevin Cole said, referring to the women’s and men’s teams, who combined for 12 gold medals. “We placed really high in a lot of different things. I’m most excited for the seniors to go out with some victories. We didn’t quite have the depth to take the championship this year, but that happens. I think the team is looking really good now and in the future.”

Hope scored in five more events on Friday.

In the high jump, senior Allison Schram (Fenton, Michigan / Hartland) tied for third after clearing 1.52 meters (4-11 ¾). Junior Natalie Christnagel (Grosse Ile, Michigan / Grosse Ile) was eighth at 1.46 meters (4-9 ½).

In the 400 hurdles, junior Elliana Johnson (East Lansing, Michigan / Haslett) placed fourth at a PR 1:07.46. Junior Lauren Newens (Sterling Heights, Michigan / Adlai Stevenson) took fifth with a PR 1:09.66. Durow was seventh at 1:12.29.

In the discus, junior Kamryn Bice (Monroe, Michigan / Monroe) finished fifth with a toss of 36.95 meters (121-2). Senior Greta Robrahn (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) was eighth at 33.68 meters (110-6).

In the 1,500 meters, Vanderbilt took seventh with a PR 4:48.11.

In the 100 meters, Fisher placed eighth with a season-best 12.88.

Hope’s five-year reign as MIAA champion ended when Calvin University scored a winning total of 252.5 points. Trine University was second with 194 points.

The Flying Dutchmen finished ahead of fourth-place The University of Olivet (65), fifth-place Albion College (55), sixth-place Adrian College (45) and seventh-place Alma College (20).

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ALMA, Mich. – At the conclusion of the MIAA Championships, the Albion College outdoor track and field teams took fourth and fifth respectively. The Britons swept the triple jump on Friday. With 104 points, the men were fourth and the women scored 55 to take fifth.

4x100m Relay: KingDavid Adedapo, Cooper Bright, Henry Wehrly and Josiah Graddick (third, 42.18); Mia Czarnowski, Lauren Fenstermaker, Alexis Ames, DB Edwards (fifth, 50.40)

110m Hurdlers: KingDavid Adedapo (fourth, 15.50)

400m: Josiah Graddick (fourth, 48.89)

100m: Henry Wehrly (fourth, 10.94)

800m: Logan Vining (third, 1:55.38)

400m Hurdles: KingDavid Adedapo (third, 55.99)

200m: Henry Wehrly (fourth, 22.02), Josiah Graddick (eighth, 22.47)

Javelin: John Jackson (third, 51.14m); Lizzie Storey (fourth, 30.00m), Riley Adams (fifth, 29.77m)

Discus: Tess Anthony (sixth, 34.31); Eddie Hines (second, 47.83m), Connor Dewan (fourth, 44.73m)

Triple Jump: DB Edwards (first, 11.20m); James Grey (first, 13.73m)

5000m: Olivia DeGraaf (eighth, 18:39.73)

Select athletes will remain on campus and compete in Last Chance invitationals for a shot at qualifying for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

 

GULF SHORES, Ala. – LMU Beach Volleyball earned its second all-time win over USC on Saturday morning in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The #4 Lions eliminated the four-time defending champions, #5 USC, 3-1.
 
LMU won the first set on all five courts against the Trojans putting the Lions in position to take the dual with just one more set win on three of the five courts.
 
Abbey Thorup and Lisa Luini gave LMU their first dual point, winning 21-17, 21-18 on Court 3.
 
Moments later, the Lions took a second dual point at the fives court as Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales defeated the Trojans, 22-20, 21-16, after battling back in the first set.
 
The dual was clinched by Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia with a score of 21-13, 14-21, 15-7.
 
The Lions were 0-36 all-time against USC prior to this season but took two out of three duals from the Trojans in 2025. USC eliminated LMU in each of the last two season in Gulf Shores.
 
The turnaround will be quick as LMU is set to face top-seeded UCLA Saturday afternoon at 12 PM CT / 10 AM PT on ESPN2. The Lions and Bruins played three times this season, with all three going five sets. UCLA won in Honolulu and San Luis Obispo, and LMU won in Laguna Beach.
 
Official Beach Volleyball Results (Final)
#4 Loyola Marymount (37-6) vs #5 USC (27-11)
05/03/2025 at Gulf Shores, Ala. — The Hangout
Match Score: Loyola Marymount 3, USC 1
 

1. Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia (LMU) def. Madison White and Zoey Henson (USC): 21-13, 14-21, 15-7
2. Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) vs. Ashley Pater and Kennedy Coakley (USC): match was unfinished; 21-19, 12-21, 7-2
3. Abbey Thorup and Lisa Luini (LMU) def. Mabyn Thomas and Maya Gessner (USC): 21-17, 21-18
4. Delaney Karl and Ella Larkin (USC) def. Isabelle Reffel and Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU): 15-21, 21-14, 15-9
5. Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales (LMU) def. Madison Goellner and Kaileigh Truslow (USC): 22-20, 21-16

 
MATCH NOTES
Order of finish: 3, 5, 4, 1
Start Time: 9:17 AM
Duration: 57
 
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Six Waves from the Pepperdine beach volleyball team earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top Flight honors this season.
 
Emma Eden and Ella Foti earned the award on court three, Madison Oriskovich and Gabriella Perez received the honor on court two and Kate Clermont and McKenna Thomas earned the award in slot No. 1.
 
The Top Flight program, now in its seventh year, recognizes beach pairs who compete in at least 15 matches together at a specific flight and win at least 75% of their matches. This year, 88 pairs representing 45 schools—from all three NCAA divisions, NAIA, and Two-Year Colleges—have earned Top Flight status.
 
Eden (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Foti (Madison, Wis.) collected a 23-7 record this season playing in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. The duo earned the award in slot No. 3, collecting a 19-6 record on that court. This is the first honor of its kind for both these Waves. Eden and Foti picked up two wins against top-ranked teams this season, defeating then-ranked No. 1 UCLA’s third pair in addition to picking up a victory over then-ranked #1 TCU’s second pair. Eden and Foti also beat then-ranked #10 Long Beach State’s No. 2 pair in Malibu during the opening weekend.
 
This past week, Eden was named the co-WCC Freshman of the Year, becoming the fourth Wave in program history to earn the award. She also made the All-WCC first team and the WCC All-Freshman Team.
 
Oriskovich (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Perez (Loomis, Calif.) collected an 18-7 record together on court two. Not only did they record 18 wins together, but the Waves duo rattled off 14 consecutive wins from March 22-April 24, going an entire month without losing a match. Oriskovich made the All-WCC first team in 2024 and the All-WCC second team in 2023, while Perez garnered an All-WCC second team selection last year. This is the first time either of these Waves have received an AVCA Top Flight honor.
 
On court one, Clermont (Burlington, Ontario, Canada) and Thomas (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) posted a 24-9 record, including a win over then-ranked #12 Arizona State’s No. 1 pair as they earned AVCA Top Flight status for the second time in each of their careers. The Waves duo also posted a perfect 3-0 record at the WCC Tournament, defeating Pacific, Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara.
 
Not only did Clermont and Thomas pick up 24 wins in the No. 1 slot this year, but they finished decorated careers with the second most wins by a Waves pair in program history, ending with 58 victories on the No. 1 court.  Additionally, Clermont and Thomas both made the All-WCC first team for the third consecutive year after their senior campaigns.

Prior to this season, the Waves have had six athletes receive Top Flight status. In 2022, Melanie Paul and Madison Shields earned the award on court one, while Simone Priebe and McKenna Thomas received the honor on court two. Kate Clermont and Savannah Standage collected the award in 2023 in slot No. 2.

 

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