Lions Make History as National Runner’s Up in NCAA Beach Volleyball Final

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The LMU Beach Volleyball finished the 2025 season as National Finalists, the furthest the program has ever gone. The Lions entered the day coming off a quarterfinal win over USC and a semifinal win over UCLA to earn a spot in the National Championship game against 2-seed TCU.
 
The Horned Frogs took the first dual point on Court 4, before LMU tied the dual at 1-1 with a win on Court 2 from Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti. The LMU Twos Pair won 21-16, 21-17. With the win, Prihti surpassed Jessie Pritchard as LMU’s all-time winningest player with 110 wins. The pair of Hooker and Prihti were named to the NCAA All-Tournament team after going 2-0 with two unfinished matches.
 
TCU then went back ahead 2-1 with a win at the threes pair. The response came with a win at Court Five from Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales. The pair won with identical sets of 21-16, 21-16 to tie the dual at 2-all and setting up a decisive match on the final court. Rosenthal and Poletti Corrales went 4-0 in four matches at Gulf Shores.
 
After winning the first set, 21-18, Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia fell behind in the second set and TCU forced a decisive third set for the National Championship. The Horned Frogs came out fast, leading 9-2, 10-3, and 11-4 before ultimately taking the final set of the season 15-6.
 
The Lions are just the second program in school history to play in a National Championship Game, joining the 2004 Women’s Water Polo program. The 38 wins are a program record and John Mayer became the first coach in school history to be named National Coach of the Year. The team also became the first in school history to win six consecutive conference titles.
 
Fans, students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to welcome the Lions home on Sunday night. LMU will be arriving to Fans, students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to welcome the Lions home on Sunday night. LMU will be arriving to campus around 9:15 PM straight from Gulf Shores and head directly back to campus to depart the team bus outside the Hank Gathers statue.
 
Official Beach Volleyball Results (Final)
#2 TCU (32-5) vs #4 Loyola Marymount (38-7)
05/04/2025 at Gulf Shores, Ala. — The Hangout
Match Score: TCU 3, LMU 2
 

1. Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno (TCU) def. Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia (LMU); 18-21, 21-15, 15-6
2. Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti (LMU) def. Hailey Hamlett and Maria Gonzalez (TCU): 21-16, 21-17
3. Allanis Navas and Sofia Izuzquiza (TCU) def. Abbey Thorup and Lisa Luini (LMU): 21-16, 21-13
4. Ana Vergara and Anhelina Khmil (TCU) def. Isabelle Reffel and Magdalena Rabitsch (LMU): 21-14, 21-19
5. Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales (LMU) def. Stacy Reeves and Denie Konstantinova (TCU): 21-16, 21-16

 
MATCH NOTES
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 5, 1,
Start Time: 9:35 AM
Duration: 1:13
 
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