GULF SHORES, Ala. – Making its second NCAA Tournament appearance in as many years, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach volleyball team earned the No. 17 seed and will face No. 16 UT Martin in the opening round match Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT. in Gulf Shores.
The winner will go on to face No. 1 UCLA on Friday, streamed nationally on ESPNU.
The Islanders (24-9) earned an automatic bid to the Big Dance after winning the Southland Conference Tournament. It will be their second NCAA appearance ever, making history to go in back-to-back years.
Under the leadership of head coach
Gayle Stammer, the two-time reigning SLC Coach of the Year, the Islanders posted its best record in program history and won two titles this year after being crowned the conference's regular season champions.
A&M-Corpus Christi has not dropped a match to a Southland opponent since 2021 and are a perfect 24-0 SLC all-time in the regular season under Stammer.
Four pairs garnered All-Conference Second-Team honors, with senior
Chloe Tome being tabbed the SLC Newcomer of the Year and freshman
Kristin Bobay earning SLC Freshman of the Year. The two paired at court two all year and notched notable victories over #15 FIU, #17 Arizona, UC Davis, and FGCU.
Sophomore
Kela Moreno and redshirt junior
Shea Slusser played at the five spot all year but moved up to court four in the SLC Tournament where they went a perfect 3-0 to earn Pair of the Tournament following the championship.
Seven of A&M-Corpus Christi's nine losses this year were to ranked opponents.
It will be the first ever meeting between A&M-Corpus Christi and UT Martin. If the Islanders were to advance, they would face UCLA for just the second time in program history.
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