Beach Volleyball Triumph: TCU Claims Their First Crown
Texas Christian University beats Loyola Marymount University to claim the NCAA beach volleyball championship
Hitting the sand of Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs seized their inaugural NCAA women's beach volleyball championship, edging out Loyola Marymount with a nail-biting 3-2 victory on Sunday.
Stepping into the storied annals of the sport, TCU displaced the dual dominance of USC and UCLA, who had previously captured five titles between them. The Trojans won the initial two and the four preceding championships, while the Bruins reigned supreme from 2018 to 2019[2][5].
The invincible duo of Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno, who took a break to compete in the Olympics, returned to TCU unbeaten in four years as a pair. The Loyola Marymount team of Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia bested them in the opening game 18-21, but Alvarez and Moreno retaliated with a dominating 21-15 and 15-6 comeback in the final two games[1].
After vanquishing No. 5 seed USC in the quarterfinals and the top-seeded UCLA in the semifinals, Loyola Marymount (38-7) arrived at the finals brimming with confidence. However, the Horned Frogs' unyielding rally resulted in a 12-match winning streak, securing them the championship[1].
Adding to their triumph, TCU's Sofia Izuzquizal and Allanis Navas notched a point with a 21-16, 21-13 victory. Anhelina Khmil and Ana Vergara, the fours pair, also claimed a point with 21-14 and 21-19 wins, finishing the season undefeated at 21-0[1].
The Olympians, including Alvarez and Moreno, closed the championship with their unruffled prowess, marking the end of TCU's triumphant season[1].
In the winner's circle, Loyola Marymount's Chloe Hooker and Vilhelmiina Prihti and fives pair Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales fought valiantly, each earning a point with a pair of 21-16 victories[1].
Behind the Scenes
Dearica Hamby Helps Rae Burrell's Growth
Sparks veteran Dearica Hamby took on the role of mentor, helping teammate Rae Burrell adapt to life as a reserve in the WNBA[3].
Further Reading
- High school beach volleyball: Final results
- Redondo Union claims Southern Section girls' beach volleyball title
- High school girls' beach volleyball: Southern Section semifinal results and championship pairings
[1] NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships | GCAA
[2] USC Women's Beach Volleyball Wins 2023 National Championship, Fifth in Program History | USTrojans
[3] Dearica Hamby Sparks Rae Burrell's Growth | LA Daily News
[4] The History of NCAA Women's Beach Volleyball Championships (as of 2025) | BeachVolleyballHistory.com
[5] TCU Horned Frogs Take the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship | TCU360.com
- The historic win of TCU in the NCAA women's beach volleyball championship marked the break of USC and UCLA's dual dominance in the sport, both California-based schools that had previously captured five titles combined.
- As a result of their victory, Texas Christian University (TCU) became the first team from outside California to claim the title, showcasing the growth and expansion of beach volleyball in different states across the country.
