University Southern California Trojans
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/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
Photo by: Ray Wong
USC Beach Volleyball Heads to Huntsville for AVCA National Championship
November 02, 2023 | Women's Beach Volleyball
Several Trojans will also participate in the BVNE Collegiate Preseason tournament in Santa Monica
LOS ANGELES – The six-time national champion USC beach volleyball team will send two pairs to participate in the 2023 AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach National Championships at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex in Huntsville, Ala., this weekend (Nov. 3-5).
The Women of Troy received two automatic berths as the defending team national champion. USC's senior All-American Megan Kraft (San Diego, Calif.) and All-Pac-12 sophomore Madison White (Scottsdale, Ariz.) also won the AVCA's West Coast Qualifier event two weeks ago to claim the west coast's automatic bid into the 64-pair field.
Because teams may choose what pairs and pairings to send to the national championship, the Trojans' two pairs will be comprised of freshman Ashley Pater(Bradenton, Fla.) and graduate transfer Ainsley Radell (Moraga, Calif.); and graduate transfers Maddi Kriz (Austin, Texas) and Grace Seits (Ramona, Calif.). Pater-Radell received the ninth seed and Kriz-Seits was tabbed the 10th seed to each hold the highest seed in their individual pools.
Presented by the U.S. Marine Corps, the three-day event will crown both a women's pairs national champion and also determine a men's team national champion.
The women's competition brings together 64 pairs from 40 NCAA Division I and Division II beach programs from across the country. The lion's share of the bids—52 of 64—were offered based on selection criteria utilizing 2023 results and records, while the final 12 were awarded at regional qualifier events. The men's championship will include five teams, and the competition will use a best three-of-five format.
Through an expansion of the AVCA's partnership with Volleyball World, live coverage of this weekend's marquee matches will be available via VBTV broadcast. Center-court matches from the men's team championship and from bracket play of top women's pairs leading up to the championship match on Sunday will be viewable through the website and app.
Women's pairs are divided into four-team pools, which will play on Friday (Nov. 3). Bracket play will take place on Saturday (Nov. 4) and Sunday (Nov. 5). The championship tournament format ensures that all pairs will play each of the three days. For the men's teams, pool play begins Saturday, and a champion will be crowned Sunday following single-elimination bracket play.
The fall collegiate championship event is part of a collaboration between the AVCA, event organizer Rally Volleyball, the City of Huntsville—including the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau—Beach Volleyball Consulting, Baden Sports, and Volleyball Life. Further details and a full schedule and results from the AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach National Championships are available on the event info page.
Trojans will also participate in the BVNE's Collegiate Preseason pairs tournament set to be played at North Santa Monica Beach, this weekend (Nov. 4-5). The event will feature pool play on Saturday and elimination bracket play on Sunday.
Under fifth-year head coach Dain Blanton, the USC beach volleyball team captured its third straight NCAA Championship (fifth NCAA title and sixth national title) in 2023. The Women of Troy finished the year ranked No. 1 and had an overall record of 32-5. USC added two more AVCA All-Americans to its history books with the third selection for Megan Kraft and the first-career honor for Delaynie Maple. Kraft was named the Pac-12's Player of the Year while she and Maple earned Pac-12 Pair of the Year laurels. Both were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team and were joined by Madison Shields and Madison White. Blanton finished his fourth season with a 105-15 career record and Gustavo Rocha was chosen as the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year.
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on X @USCBeach.
The Women of Troy received two automatic berths as the defending team national champion. USC's senior All-American Megan Kraft (San Diego, Calif.) and All-Pac-12 sophomore Madison White (Scottsdale, Ariz.) also won the AVCA's West Coast Qualifier event two weeks ago to claim the west coast's automatic bid into the 64-pair field.
Because teams may choose what pairs and pairings to send to the national championship, the Trojans' two pairs will be comprised of freshman Ashley Pater(Bradenton, Fla.) and graduate transfer Ainsley Radell (Moraga, Calif.); and graduate transfers Maddi Kriz (Austin, Texas) and Grace Seits (Ramona, Calif.). Pater-Radell received the ninth seed and Kriz-Seits was tabbed the 10th seed to each hold the highest seed in their individual pools.
Presented by the U.S. Marine Corps, the three-day event will crown both a women's pairs national champion and also determine a men's team national champion.
The women's competition brings together 64 pairs from 40 NCAA Division I and Division II beach programs from across the country. The lion's share of the bids—52 of 64—were offered based on selection criteria utilizing 2023 results and records, while the final 12 were awarded at regional qualifier events. The men's championship will include five teams, and the competition will use a best three-of-five format.
Through an expansion of the AVCA's partnership with Volleyball World, live coverage of this weekend's marquee matches will be available via VBTV broadcast. Center-court matches from the men's team championship and from bracket play of top women's pairs leading up to the championship match on Sunday will be viewable through the website and app.
Women's pairs are divided into four-team pools, which will play on Friday (Nov. 3). Bracket play will take place on Saturday (Nov. 4) and Sunday (Nov. 5). The championship tournament format ensures that all pairs will play each of the three days. For the men's teams, pool play begins Saturday, and a champion will be crowned Sunday following single-elimination bracket play.
The fall collegiate championship event is part of a collaboration between the AVCA, event organizer Rally Volleyball, the City of Huntsville—including the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau—Beach Volleyball Consulting, Baden Sports, and Volleyball Life. Further details and a full schedule and results from the AVCA Fall Collegiate Beach National Championships are available on the event info page.
Trojans will also participate in the BVNE's Collegiate Preseason pairs tournament set to be played at North Santa Monica Beach, this weekend (Nov. 4-5). The event will feature pool play on Saturday and elimination bracket play on Sunday.
Under fifth-year head coach Dain Blanton, the USC beach volleyball team captured its third straight NCAA Championship (fifth NCAA title and sixth national title) in 2023. The Women of Troy finished the year ranked No. 1 and had an overall record of 32-5. USC added two more AVCA All-Americans to its history books with the third selection for Megan Kraft and the first-career honor for Delaynie Maple. Kraft was named the Pac-12's Player of the Year while she and Maple earned Pac-12 Pair of the Year laurels. Both were named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team and were joined by Madison Shields and Madison White. Blanton finished his fourth season with a 105-15 career record and Gustavo Rocha was chosen as the AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year.
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on X @USCBeach.
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