GULF SHORES, Ala. – Earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi beach volleyball team will represent the Southland Conference when it plays UT-Martin in the opening play-in match Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT in Gulf Shores.
The Islanders (24-9) are coming off back-to-back SLC Tournament championships after beating Boise State 3-1 in this year's final. It marks their third championship in two years after also winning the league's inaugural regular season title this year following a perfect 6-0 SLC record.
The championship took A&M-Corpus Christi's season record to 24-9 which improved on their best record in program history. Head coach
Gayle Stammer, the two-time reigning SLC Coach of the Year, has led the Islanders to two 20+ win seasons in a row and five winning seasons since taking over the program in 2018.
Four pairs were All-Conference Second-Team selections, 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 to earn All-Conference honors but moved up to court four in the SLC Tournament. They went a perfect 3-0 to help the Islanders to the title in addition to being named Pair of the Tournament.
Sophomore
Jade Bennett and junior
Tori Johnson went 2-1 in the tournament to post a 20-11 pair record on the year, a team best. They now have 37 career wins as a pair, which ranks them first in the program's record book.
It is the first time in program history that the Islanders will make consecutive NCAA appearances. They will be going for their first ever win in the tournament.
The match will have live stats to following along with. The winner will advance to the first round and face No. 1 UCLA Friday at 10 a.m. CT, which will be streamed live on ESPNU.
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