TAVARES, Fla. - Stevenson Women's Beach Volleyball played three matches today to open the 2024 AVCA Small College Beach Championship. They downed Huntingdon College and East Texas Baptist University 3-0 before defeating defending national champion Hendrix College 3-1 in their final matchup of the day.
The Mustangs started their morning against Huntingdon, needing just six sets to claim the win. At the twos, Nicolette Fuglestad and Taylor Jones defeated the Hawks' Ariel Helmick and Izzy Valderperas 21-14 and 21-18. Maddie Clouser and Hannah Naja downed Caroline Foote and Lindsey Holland 21-12 and 21-16 as the middle flight. Stevenson's fourth pairing, Miranda Mueck and Giulia Viglietta, made short work of Huntingdon's Eva Ellenburg and Be a Lindquist, allowing just 16 points against.
In match two against East Texas Baptist, Clouser/Naja and Mueck/Viglietta earned their second wins of the day. Clouser and Naja won 21-13 and 21-16 while Mueck and Viglietta earned 21-13 and 21-9 victories. Fifth flight Olivia Simon and Sam Simmers faced Peyton Fredrick and Kyleigh Pate, knocking them down in two sets of 21-13 and 21-14.
Stevenson's much anticipated matchup was their last of the day against Hendrix, with whom the Mustangs played to a regular season split. Maddie Clouser and Hannah Naja recorded the lone win hat trick of the day thanks to their 21-18 and 21-16 sets over Hendrix's Morgan Ford and Liz Roy at the threes.
Second pair Nicolette Fuglestad and Taylor Jones played to a tight 21-19 first set victory before dominating in the second, finishing with a 21-12 win. At the fives, Sam Simmers and Olivia Simon downed the Warriors' Kailey Carrico and Mabry Matz 21-16 and 21-17.
The Mustangs, now 23-8 overall, have earned themselves a spot in tomorrow's semifinal round alongside East Texas Baptist, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Berry.
Stevenson and the Berry Vikings are scheduled for their final meeting of the season tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. on Hickory Point Beach courts B1-5. The winner will advance to the national title game at 1 p.m. on courts A1-5.
