TCU Headed to the NCAA Finals

GULF SHORES, Ala. – For the first time in school history, TCU Beach Volleyball (31-5) is headed to the NCAA Finals to compete for the National Championship. After clocking both No. 7-seeded Texas and No. 6-seeded Cal Poly on Saturday, the Horned Frogs will face the No. 4-seeded LMU Lions in the finals on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN. 

TCU remains the best in Texas after sweeping the Longhorns 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the all-time series, the Horned Frogs improved to 42-0 against teams from the Lone Star State.  

In the semifinals against the Mustangs, TCU’s AVCA Top Flight honorees propelled the Frogs to the title dual: Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno, Anhelina Khmil/Ana Vergara and Allanis Navas/Sofia Izuzquiza.  

It was the first point for the No. 1 duo of Alvarez/Moreno this weekend. The two have yet to drop a dual in the four years they’ve been to Gulf Shores. Khmil and Vergara remain undefeated, notching their 20th win together this season.   

TCU improved to 6-6 all-time in the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship.  

Quick Hits against No. 7-seeded Texas 

• TCU took all the first sets against the Longhorns to take an early lead.  

• Anhelina Khmil and Ana Vergara notched point one at the No. 4 spot: 21-13, 21-12.  

• Sofia Izuzquiza and Allanis Navas notched point two at the No. 3 spot: 21-15, 21-15.  

• To clinch a spot in the semifinals, Hailey Hamlett and Maria Gonzalez notched point three at the No. 2 spot: 21-19, 21-19.  

• With their win over the Longhorns, the Horned Frogs maintained their lead in the all-time series, stretching to 4-0.  

• The sweep over Texas is the 15th for TCU this season.   

Quick Hits against No. 6-seeded Cal Poly  

• The Olympic duo of Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno notched the first point for the Frogs at the No. 1 spot: 27-25, 21-12.  

• The pairing is now 15-4 on the season together.   

• The undefeated No. 4 pairing of Khmil/Vergara notched point two: 25-23, 21-18.  

• The two are now 20-0 on the season together.   

• Hamlett/Gonzalez dropped in a three-set battle at the No. 2 spot: 15-21, 21-17, 12-15.   

• The duo moved to 11-3 on the season together.  

• To propell TCU to its first appearance in the final title match, Izuzquiza/Navas notched point three at the No. 3 spot: 21-13, 18-21, 15-13.   

• The freshman and senior duo are now 25-2 together on the season.  

• The win over the Mustangs stretched TCU’s record in the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship to 6-6.   

• The Horned Frogs maintained their lead in the all-time series against Cal Poly, extending to 6-4.  

Up Next  

No. 2-seeded TCU will take on No. 4-seeded LMU. The title match for the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship will be live at 9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN.