GULF SHORES, Ala. — Florida Southern College concluded its 2026 beach volleyball season on Sunday with a mixed showing at the AVCA Small College Championships, securing a decisive 3-0 victory over Vanguard before narrowly falling to Eckerd, 3-2. The Moccasins advanced to the bronze bracket and battled to the end, ultimately falling just short of a bronze medal finish.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 3, VANGUARD 0
In the match against Vanguard, the Mocs swept all three completed courts without conceding a loss. In the top flight, Sydney Melcher and Ryla Bryant of Florida Southern College secured a victory in straight sets against Vanguard's Thea Snider and Josephine Springer, with scores of 21-18, 21-18, establishing an early advantage for the Mocs. The No. 3 flight saw Hailey Carefoot and Sarah Idler add another point by overcoming Avery Bennett and Jordan Packer from the Lions with a straight-set win of 21-15, 22-20. On Court 4, Aubrey Wieser and Victoria Rushing contributed a dominant performance, defeating Vanguard's Gianna Pecile and Jadyn Starling in straight sets, 21-14, 21-10. Courts 2 and 5 were left unfinished, with Ella Pringle and Lauren Passaglia, and Allison Thomas and Madden Bingham still in play when the dual was clinched.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 2, ECKERD 3
In the match against Eckerd, Florida Southern (18-13) secured victories in the No. 1 and No. 3 flights but ultimately fell just short in the dual. In the top flight, Melcher and Bryant delivered another commanding performance, defeating Eckerd's Madison Hardbarger and Anna Jupin in straight sets, 21-13, 21-13. The No. 3 pairing of Carefoot and Idler continued their strong play, overcoming Teagan VanderMey and Ella Kloepper in straight sets, 21-19, 21-11. At the No. 4 position, Lily Schlageter and Wieser battled in a three-set contest against Marti Boser and Emma Samuelson. After taking the opening set 21-13, the Moccasin duo narrowly dropped the second set 20-22 and fell in the deciding third set 10-15. The No. 2 and No. 5 flights were claimed by the Tritons, as Pringle and Passaglia fell to Brooke Hand and Maddie Prois, 16-21, 17-21, while Thomas and Bingham were defeated by Addie White and Jessie Meghreblian, 16-21, 13-21.
Florida Southern closes the season with an 18-13 overall record finishes in second for the bronze at the AVCA Small College Chamionship.
