Long Beach State Takes Home Two AVCA Top Flight Awards

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah earned their third Top Flight award for their efforts at the first flight. Megan Widener and Demi Wagdy won for their outstanding season at the fifth flight as the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced the recipients.

Gementera and Hagenah were one of the best first flight duos in the nation with a 33-4 record. The duo has never dropped more than nine matches in a season, with their junior campaign being no exception.

Megan Widener and Demi Wagdy have had success as a duo this season, most notably at the fifth flight. They went on a 12-win streak mid-season, taking down pairs from LMU and Hawaii. They also were named Big West Pair of the Week after going 4-0 during the Death Volley Invitational. Widener and Wagdy continued to find success even after being moved up to the third flight for the Big West conference tournament. Their win at the third flight was the dual clinching point to earn the Beach another Big West Championship.

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.